The historic crafts footpath - from Sover

<p>Historic farmhouses, limestone, ancient chestnuts trees and the wild Avisio stream on an incredibly varied route</p>

<p>The itinerary follows a section of the Historic Crafts ethnographic footpath along the left bank of the Cembra valley.</p> <p>Starting from Sover town centre, take a straightforward road just outside the town which soon turns into a footpath and continues to the village of Piscine, before descending to SP71, crossing it and turning onto a cobbled mule track which descends steeply into the valley. Just a little further on Castegnar de la paia is waiting for us, a majestic over 400-year-old chestnut tree.</p> <p>Continuing downhill takes you out at a group of splendid historic farmhouses some of which have been lovingly restored in accordance with traditional architectural styles. You are now at Maso Pianaci.</p> <p>The footpath continues downhill past the Vettori limestones used until the mid-20th century for lime working and continuing through the woods along the Avisio stream which has carved out spectacular sheer rocks through the valley. It then emerges at Castelir, a very large farmhouse built on the banks of the stream. Now in ruins it was once the fulcrum of life, work and community.</p> <p>Here our footpath continues on metal walkways attached to the rocks and then the Avisio stream bed before continuing into the forest until the views open up, surprisingly, in a clearing containing Molini di Sover, a clump of houses just a few metres from Pont de la Rio. It then climbs back up to Sover on an attractive road cobbled with pebbles smoothed over by time.</p>