Lessinia
Some photos of Lessinia. From top to bottom: winter view of upper Lessinia with the ski slopes of San Giorgio, Ponte di Veja, the village ofGiazza, a flower in the Fraselle valley, summer pastures, a typical Lessinian stone building (lastame).
Highest point
Coordinates	45°41′2.05″N11°13′0.31″E / 45.6839028°N 11.2167528°E /45.6839028; 11.2167528
Geography
Country	Italy
Province	Province of Verona,Province of Vicenza andTrentino
Parent range	Venetian Prealps

Lessinia, orLessini Mountains, is aplateau and alpine supergroup located mainly in theprovince of Verona and partially in the provinces ofVicenza andTrento.

Part of the Lessinia territory constitutes theLessinia Regional Nature Park. It is bordered to the north by the Ronchi Valley and theCarega Group, to the east by the Leogra Valley, to the south by the course of theAdige River and the upper Veronese plain, and to the west by theLagarina Valley. Its peaks reach an altitude between 1,500 and 1,800 m above sea level.

From the earliest times Lessinia saw the presence of man, who could easily find flint there and take refuge in its many caves and shelters. The spread ofcastellieri, small fortified settlements placed on the top of the hills, of which only a few traces remain now scattered throughout the territory, dates back to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. Before the arrival of theRomans, which occurred between the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C., the area was inhabited by various peoples ofRhaetian origin, including theArusnates. At that time the plateau was almost entirely occupied by forests for the lower part, while the esplanades higher up were used for summer grazing. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the territory went through a noticeable demographic decline, which was not interrupted until the early 11th century.

From theCarolingian age, until the advent of thecommunal age, much of Lessinia was under the control of the Veronese Church, a dominion that went into crisis with the rise of the wool merchants of which theDella Scala family, futurelords of Verona, were the city exponents. In 1287, Bishop Bartolomeo della Scala allowed a group of settlers of German origin to settle in the area of present-dayRoverè Veronese, forming the first nucleus of theCimbrians of Lessinia. With thedevotion of Verona to Venice in 1404, the plateau also came under the rule of theSerenissima, which proceeded to grant the inhabitants various privileges in exchange for guarding the northern border. The arrival ofNapoleon brought about major changes in the administrative structure of the area, some of which were maintained by subsequentAustrian rule. The years following theannexation of Veneto to theKingdom of Italy were very hard on the population, which experienced famine and epidemics. Spared from the tragic events ofWorld War I andWorld War II, the end of the 20th century was characterized by a gradual depopulation of the Lessinian municipalities in favor of emigration to the city.

Historical names used in Veronese documents for this territory areLuxino,Lixino,Lesinio,Lissinorum andLissinia, always with the meaning of "land used and prepared for pastures." The earliest known document in which the term appears is a deed dated May 7, 814, in which thegastald Ildemanno of Verona donated "campo meo in Luxino ad Alpes facienda, una cum capilo pasquo" to the Veronese monastery ofSanta Maria in Organo.^[1] It may also have originated from the Veronese dialect wordle sime, i.e., peaks, or from theVenetianlisso orlissio, i.e., a channel of beams for plants to slide down.^[2]

Enclosed on the north by the deep and wild Val di Ronchi and the majesticCarega Group, bounded on the east by the Val Leogra, on the southeast by the hills ofMonteviale,^[3] on the southwest by the course of theAdige and the upper Veronese plain, and on the west by theVal Lagarina, it is almost a unit in itself within theVenetian Prealps. It is furrowed by numerous valleys that descend from the high pastures and fan out toward Verona and the plain.

Proceeding from west to east are the valleys ofFumane,Marano andNegrar (which together constitute a unit that has more historical than geographical character: theValpolicella) and then the Valpantena, Squaranto, Mezzane, d'Illasi, Tramigna, d'Alpone, Chiampo and Agno valleys. Its heights to the west fall within the Venetian Pre-Alps, with peaks between 1,500 and 1,800 m, and the Carega group to the northeast (which exceeds 2,200 m). In contrast, the central range is between 1000 and 1300 m.

Some of the peaks include: Corno d'Aquilio, Monte Tomba, Cima Trappola.

The landscape of the High Pastures of Lessinia has been officially recognized as an agrarian landscape and included in the National Register of Historic Rural Landscapes, prepared by Decree No. 17070 of November 19, 2012, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies.^[4]

The phenomenon ofkarstification typical of thelimestone rocks that form Lessinia has made its hydrographic network highly articulated and varied, characterized by a great ramification of streams that during theglacial andquaternary periods have contributed to carve out the stream valleys that make up the territory. Throughout the plateau there are a number ofsprings, both temporary ones related to snow melt and rainfall, and permanent ones, which flow mainly at the outlet of the valleys between the upper and lower plains. The most notable ones are found on theTrentino side in the Ronchi valley, about 11 km long and crossed by the Ala stream, and in Val Bona, while on the other sides those in Val di Illasi and between Velo and Val di Mazzano are the most substantial.^[5]

Below is a list of the main watercourses present in Lessinia starting from the west and going eastward. AtFumane transits theprogno of the same name (a term in Veronese dialect for a stream), which after originating from Mount San Giovanni and Mount Loffa travels about 14 km of the Progni valley receiving water from numerous tributaries.^[6] TheMarano di Valpolicella valley, just 7 km long, is traversed by the Marano stream coming from Vajo Camporal and whose source is located at Mount Noroni. Further east, the 11-km-longNegrar di Valpolicella valley is traversed by the stream of the same name, which originates from the Fane stream and has as tributaries the Fiamene, Prun, Mazzano, San Ciriaco, Sieresol, Pozzetta, Quena and Cancello streams, among others. In the lowlands, the Negrar and Marano streams join and then flow into theAdige River.^[7]

Near the city of Verona, the Quinzano stream and the Avesa stream reach the plains, both of which then flow into the Adige.^[8] East of Verona is the great Valpantena valley, oriented north-south and extending for about 26 km with a catchment area of 150 km², ending in the north with a bifurcation that divides the Alta Valpantena from the Vajo dell'Anguilla.^[9] The stream of Valpantena, after passing through the built-up area of Borgo Venezia, flows into the Adige west of San Michele Extra.^[10] Further east, from Cima Trappola originates the Vajo Squaranto, which joins the Vajo Illasi after receiving several tributaries including the Fibbio and Marcellise streams, atSan Martino Buon Albergo and then terminates in the Adige beforeBelfiore.^[11]

The Val d'Illasi, with its 22 km, bisects the Lessinia plateau going all the way into theCarega group. The valley is very narrow in its northernmost portions, recording just under 200 meters in width atSelva di Progno and then opening up atIllasi to about 3 km. NearGiazza a valley opens up in a westerly-easterly direction, the Fraselle valley traversed by the stream of the same name.^[12]

The last major valley in the province of Verona is the Val d'Alpone in which the Alpone torrent flows for about 32 km, which, originating at Mount Purga, ends its course in the Adige 7 km after passing throughSan Bonifacio.^[13] Finally, in theprovince of Vicenza, the Val del Chiampo extends for about 31 km entirely traversed by the Chiampo torrent, which also ends in the Adige after adding to its waters, originating at 1650 m above sea level, those of numerous streams.^[14]

Climatically, Lessina can be divided into three belts: ahumid temperate one, sometimes tending to sub-Mediterranean climate allowing cultivation of olive trees, which extends from the foothills to about 700 m above sea level, a subsequent fresh temperate one between 700 m and 1 500 m, and finally a cold temperate one beyond 1 500 m. Average temperatures range between 5 °C and 13 °C with an average decrease of about 0.5 °C for every 100 m of altitude gained. The coldest month is January, with average lows often below -1 °C, while the hottest period is between July and August when highs reach between 22 °C and 29 °C.Relative humidity is between 50% and 70%.^[15][16]

Averageprecipitation around 850 mm is recorded at the valley floor, which increases significantly in a northerly direction. The lowest rainfall coincides with the months of January and February, and the secondary rainfall between July and September, with the exclusion of August when intense convective activity results in increased rainfall. The highest rainfall occurs in the months of October and November, while there is a secondary highest one between April and June.^[15]Snow, which is more frequent in the central and eastern zone, occurs in the winter months between December and mid-February, not exceeding 80 centimeters on average.^[17]

Climate tables forVelo Veronese (at 1 074 m a.s.l.) andGrezzana (at 267 m a.s.l.) are given as examples:

Thedominant winds blow from west to east while those from the north are largely stopped by the major elevations. There are a number of minor currents and breezes that go from low to high, resulting in condensation and cloud formation in the higher areas.^[18]

Lessinia has a medium level ofseismicity. However, the seismic phenomena that are encountered are not attributable to volcanic causes but rather to the northward advance of theApennine chain, which results in compression and dislocation of crustal rock masses. Therefore, these are superficialinterplate earthquakes affecting the rocky belt located between 20 and 25 km deep. The Illasi valley, which is characterized by a system of faults extending in a north and south direction, is the one at greatest risk and which recorded several telluric events in the late 19th century, most notably the earthquake of June 7, 1891.^[19] Likewise, the piedmont portion immediately north of the city of Verona has been the subject of numerous earthquakes throughout history.^[20]

The Lessinia territory appears to have been inhabited since the earliest times; the ease with whichflint could be found for the production of objects, the availability of many caves and rock shelters, and other economic and security-related reasons were the factors that led various prehistoric communities to settle there.^[21]

The earliest evidence dates back to theLower Paleolithic and demonstrates human presence in several localities, including Riparo Soman, Ponte di Veja, Villa (Quinzano), Cà Verde (Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella), andFumane Cave.^[22] Also in Quinzano, numerous remains from the laterRiss-Würm interglacial period have been found, such as spearheads, axes, sickles, and fragments of human skull bones. OtherMiddle Paleolithic settlements have been found on theTorricelle, Monte Cucco,Monte Loffa and at Azzago.^[23] The findings, however, suggest that these were not true stable human settlements, as it turns out that they practiced a nomadic life, although it is assumed that the Cà Verde area was an exception.^[24] Among the fauna of the time could be foundcave bears,wolves,hyenas and various steppe rodents.^[25]

Studies have suggested that in theUpper Paleolithic the populations settled in lower Lessinia lagged behind in terms of civilization compared to more general models. The artistic testimonies and complex artifacts dating from this period are scarce.^[26] To find signs of a more complex civilization one must wait for theCopper Age,^[27] which saw the presence of man on the hills ofMarcellise, at Ponte di Veja, on Mount Loffa, at Molina,^[28] and at Colombare ofNegrar, where a hearth was found, probably used for ritual purposes.^[29]

It is from the beginning of the 2nd millennium B.C., at the height of theIron Age, that the phenomenon ofcastellieri, small settlements of huts located in a semicircle, fortified with dry-stone walls and placed on the top of the reliefs, is found in the area.^[30] Although only a few scattered traces of them remain in the surrounding area, some of them have been identified near Arbizzano (Negrar),Fumane, andMarano di Valpolicella. One of the best preserved, dating from theIron Age, was found at Castel Sottosengia, near Breonio, which has now disappeared to make way for a marble quarry.^[28][31] The discovery on site of some materials such astin andcopper has suggested that local people engaged in trade with other localities outside Italy as well.^[30]

Many of the objects found are now in the Paleontological and Prehistoric Museum of Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo and the Civic Museum of Natural History in Verona.^[32]

Since before the beginning of Roman rule, which began between the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C., the territory of Lessinia was inhabited by various populations ofRhaetian origin.^[33] A separate mention should be made of the ancient inhabitants ofValpolicella, theArusnates, whose Rhaetian orEtruscan origin is debated; this population enjoyed special administrative autonomy even after the arrival of the Romans by forming thePagus Arusnatium.^[34]

Two of the most importantRoman roads converged on Verona's territory, theVia Claudia Augusta, which connected northern Europe to thePo Valley, and theVia Postumia, which, starting fromLiguria, extended to theempire's easternmost borders. The passage of these fundamental routes, which joined in the city of Verona, made the area strategically very important. Their presence also influenced the Lessinian hill territory where secondary routes were built that joined them.^[35]

At that time Lessinia, part of the Veronese countryside, was almost entirely occupied by forests for the lower part (Frizzolana andSelva veronensis) while the plains higher up (Lessinium) were used for summer grazing. In addition to grazing activities, in Lessinia the gathering of herbs, berries, mushrooms, firewood and timber for construction was practiced.^[36] From the quarries white and reddish limestone was extracted, widely used for town buildings.^[37] Despite this, much of the territory was uninhabited. There were, therefore, few signs left by the Romans, especially in the higher areas, who limited themselves to guarding the accesses, leaving the locals with the power to organize themselves administratively. AtSan Mauro di Saline there was a cart road that went up the ridge and was used for thetranshumance to the heights of goats and sheep. AtVelo Veronese there was a military fort.^[38]

The situation was different for the villages at the bottom of the valley in which, as a result of thecenturiation of the 2nd century B.C., intense agricultural activity developed and where, at the same time,Roman villas arose whose owner, usually residing in the city, went there to administer his funds. Remains of some of them have been found in Negrar, Romagnano, Azzago, andColognola ai Colli. From the Valpantena and Valpolicella departed theaqueducts that supplied the city of Verona.^[39] Ahypogeum from the late imperial period has been found at Santa Maria in Stelle.^[40]

Beginning in the 4th century theChristianization of the people living in Lessinia began to take place; the burning of the temple of Minerva that stood inMarano (where the sanctuary of Santa Maria di Valverde stands today) is evidence of that process.^[41]

With thefall of the Western Roman Empire there was a decrease in population in Lessinia and in the economic activities that took place there. InLombard times many plots of Lessinia were given as a feudal benefit to theArimannia, free men who were able to bear arms.^[42] With the end of the Lombard reign and the advent of theCarolingian age they became meregastalds, that is, civil officials delegated to oversee the lands of the new feudal lords, who were mostly ecclesiastical bodies from theabbey of St. Columbanus of Bobbio and the court of the Priory of the monastery of St. Columbanus ofBardolino and Verona, and in particular thecathedralchapter, themonastery of San Zeno, themonastery of Santa Maria in Organo and ofSaints Nazaro and Celso. Toward the end of theearly Middle Ages the territory appeared to be organized intoparishes, of which the most important were those ofGrezzana, San Floriano, San Martino inNegrar, Arbizzano andMontorio, Santa Maria in Tregnago, and San Giovanni in Loffa, the latter probably the oldest in western Lessinia. In the 10th century there were at least threesculdasci placed to oversee areas of particular strategic interest.^{[note 1][43]} A document dated May 7, 814 mentions the term "Lessinia" for the first time.^[1]

On the other hand, the nameValpolicella (Valle Pulliscella), the area comprising the southwestern part of Lessinia, appears for the first time in a decree ofFrederick Barbarossa dated August 24, 1177, in which the emperor granted to the Congregation of the Clergy the lands around theCastrum Rotaris in the surroundings of today'sKastelruth: this has nothing to do with the Dolomite locality of the same name, since it is instead a hamlet ofSan Pietro in Cariano (VR).^[44] Again Barbarossa the following year gave comital rights over land and villas in the area to Count Sauro of the Sambonifacio family.^[44] However, administratively Valpolicella had no recognition until the communal age when a "colonel"^[45] was established with partial autonomy, having to accept a captain from Verona when the need arose. In 1311 with Federico della Scala, thecounty of Valpolicella was born, which would enjoy greater freedom and various tax breaks, prerogatives it would retain for several centuries even after the end ofScaliger rule.^[46]

The territory of Valpantena belonged largely to the canons of the cathedral. Through the 921 will of thebishop of Verona Nokterio one learns that in Marzana there was a castlecum turribus et omnibus in circuito municionibus suis and that another was built in Grezzana.^[7] Others were built in later years; between the 10th and 11th centuriescastra are documented at Poiano (built before 968), at Rocca di Lugo, at Azzago, at Romagnano, at Montorio and at Arbetu (present-dayErbezzo, mentioned in 1014).^[47] In the same years the cathedral chapter gained more and more power locally: a diploma ofOtto II in 983 assigned some castles to it, while in 1027Henry II granted it the ability to collect taxes.^[47]

With the advent of thecommunal age, there was a repopulation of the area with Grezzana, elevated to a parish seat, being the most important center.^[48] Fiscally, the valley was organized into a colonate while jurisdictionally into acaptaincy.^[49] This new political order had repercussions on the territory, which saw the gradual abandonment of the castles until all traces disappeared, with the exclusion of that of Montorio because of its strategic position.^[50] At that time, the upper Lessinia was divided into Frizzolana, which included the wooded belt located between about 900 and 1200 meters and owned by city ecclesiastical bodies; theSilva Communis Veronae, located between 1200 and 1400 and belonging to the municipality of Verona, which disposed several laws for the collection of wood to prevent impoverishment;^[51] and Lessinio, the high-altitude pastures largely owned by secular landowners or monasteries and where wool was produced, a key element in the Verona economy at that time.^[52]

During the thirteenth century in Verona the art of wool came to be established as one of the most important city economic institutions, and as a result the upper Lessinia took on the role of a strategically crucial area for sheep grazing.^[53] This situation led the ecclesiastical entities to cede, either by lease or by pure alienations, many of their Lessinia territories in favor of the wealthy city families engaged in the wool industry.^[54] This was affirmed with the seizure of power by theDella Scalaseigniory, long involved in the wool trade, who little by little succeeded in controlling the city's religious institutions by effectively taking possession of their mountain funds. These were the years in which the so-calledPotesteria Lissinorum came into being, which would find full development in the subsequentVenetian era, that is, the temporary jurisdiction over the population residing in the high-altitude pastures by, formally, the monastery of San Zeno, but in practice entrusted to the Della Scala family as feudal lords.^[55][56]

On February 5, 1287, whileAlberto della Scala waslord of Verona,Bishop Bartolomeo della Scala granted a group of settlers of German origin who had settled in theVicentine plateau to settle in Lessinia in the area of today'sRoverè Veronese and conferred on their two leaders, Olderico Vicentino and Olderico da Altissimo, the office of episcopal gastalds. This constituted the first nucleus of theCimbrians of Lessinia.^[54] The reason that prompted the bishop to call this population was purely economic in nature, namely the need for labor for the production of charcoal and lumber at lower costs than that which was imported from Trent. Several benefits were granted to this early community, such as exemption from military service, payment of taxes and the right to choose their own parish priest (jus patronatus). In the early years of the next century they came to colonize, with the assent ofCangrande della Scala, theFrizzolana at the expense of the canons of the cathedral. In 1375 they founded at the parish ofValdiporro and later that ofErbezzo, eventually settling also inSan Mauro di Saline,Velo Veronese, Camposilvano, andSelva di Progno. Their rapid expansion was slowed only by theBlack Death, which struck all of Europe without sparing Lessinia, which suffered a significant population decline.^[57]

When the power of the Scaligeris ended and after a brief interlude under the rule of theVisconti and theCarraresi, with thedevotion of Verona to Venice in 1404 Lessinia also became a territory of theSerenissima and remained so until its fall, except for the period of theWar of the League of Cambrai.^[58]

The need to rely on loyal populations residing near the borders led the Venetian Republic to confirm and expand rights and privileges already granted to the inhabitants of this territory. For example, the inhabitants ofSant'Anna d'Alfaedo were allowed to carry out grazing and wood-gathering activities as long as they ensured armed control of the paths that led toward the border with thebishopric of Trent.^[59] To benefit the area, moreover, the Serenissima promoted the construction of a road, known as "della Selve Lessinee," that crossed the territory of the vicariate of Valpantena to head toward Lugo, Belloro and Lughezzano.^[60]

The oldest cartographic depiction of Lessinia appears in a map from 1440, called the Almagià map, where a large part of the Veronese territory is drawn. In that document it is easy to recognize, among other settlements, Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo with the localities of Cona and Cerna, both with their respective churches, and the area of Selva surrounded by woods;Bosco Chiesanuova appears with many buildings and a church; Valdiporro also has a church and several districts appear nearby; as well as the territories of Saline, Tavernole, Alcenago, Lugo, Azzago, and Romagnano.^[61]

Due to the privileges granted by the Serenissima and the period of relative peace, between the 14th and 16th centuries the population of Lessinia grew steadily at the same time as additional activities, such as pastoralism and agriculture, in addition to traditional coal production and wood gathering, became established. Despite this, the population still lived in severe economic straits, so much so that corn was almost exclusively the only food available.^[62] As the population grew, new settlements began to be built. Abandoning the old wooden dwellings, the inhabitants of Lessinia began to usered Verona marble, which was readily available locally and which was processed into regular slabs and was successfully exploited. Buildings dedicated to various activities were also constructed, such asbaiti andcaseare for milk processing, icehouses and kilns to obtainquicklime.^[63] Worthy of mention are the numerous buildings of a religious character that appeared almost everywhere in the Lessinian territory: small churches, capitals, steles, small chapels placed at crossroads, all of which are manifestations of the inhabitants' religious devotion that still adorn the landscape today.^[64]

WhenNapoleon's troops settled in Lessinia as a result of thePeace of Pressburg in 1805, great changes began in the administrative structure of the area: the borders changed several times and the bureaucratic apparatus went through simplifications. The presence of troops in the Lessinian villages was numerous and often frowned upon by the population.^[65] With the intention of learning more about the people who lived there, the French conducted two censuses and studied the spread of theCimbrian language, ascertaining that it was still spoken inSelva di Progno, Campofontana andGiazza. In addition, the first secular public schools were founded.^[66] These reforms continued with the subsequentAustrian rule that lasted between 1814 and 1866 when there was theannexation of Veneto to theKingdom of Italy. During this period there was also the establishment of a free medical service designed mainly to contain any epidemics,^[67] of whichpellagra,smallpox, andcholera were typical, claiming victims among the malnourished population.^[68] Following theThird War of Independence, Lessinia was annexed by Italy and again became a borderland with theAustrian Empire. Therefore, numerous military defensive buildings were built, such as Fort Masua onMount Pastello, Fort San Briccio, Fort Santa Viola above Azzago, and Fort Monte Tesoro. The network of carriage roads was also strengthened.^[69] The second half of the 19th century was not easy for the population of Lessinia: severe famines associated with unemployment led many people to emigrate abroad.^[70] The most widespread activities among the poor resident population were limited to livestock farming, cheese production and, in the central and eastern area, coal production; ice mining was also widespread and took place in the typicalicehouses.^[71] The difficult living conditions also led to a considerable spread of smuggling with the neighboringTyrol, with which salt, tobacco, coffee, spices, sugar and alcohol were exchanged.^[72]

Being a border territory, it was feared that Lessinia could be a theater of battles duringWorld War I and thus it was fortified withtrenches andmilitary roads. The concerns, however, were not warranted and the plateau served only as a second line and as a training ground for soldiers whilewar activities were concentrated on nearby Mount Pasubio.^[73] With theend of hostilities, Trentino became Italian and therefore Lessina ceased to be a border territory. The already exhausted populations that resided there saw their living conditions worsen even more, so much so that there was heavy emigration, not only abroad, but also to neighboring territories.World War II did not involve the plateau any further, which, however, was occupied by theWehrmacht after 1943. The most significant event was a fire set by German soldiers in the upper Alpone valley in retaliation for an action carried out by partisans against the occupying troops.^[74]

When the war ended, the subsequenteconomic miracle that swept Italy was not enough to put a stop to the depopulation of the higher and more remote areas of Lessinia. The introduction of new technologies and the growth of the industrial and service sectors in the valley caused some of the typical activities of the mountains to disappear so much so that the many residents ended up moving to the city, abandoning the ancient districts that ended up being completely uninhabited. In contrast to this, beginning in the 1960s and in the larger towns, new residences began to be built that were used by citizens as second homes for vacationing and, at the same time, the phenomenon of highland tourism was born.^[75]

In Lessinia, 170 species have been observed from 2006 to 2012, ranging from the most common ones such as various turdids, finches and titmice, to those more usual in the alpine environment such ascapercaillie,black grouse,golden eagle,wallcreeper anddipper, and the more atypical ones such asblack stork,black-winged stilt,cormorant,grey heron,egret,garganey or thespotted redshank.^[76]

Tourism related to nature and in particularbirdwatching is also gradually developing in Lessinia, due to the presence of numerous alpine species such as thegolden eagle,rock thrush ordipper. Recently, it is possible to see in winter a species that is uncommon in Italy, such as thesnow bunting, which has brought many photographers and birdwatchers to Lessinia. The prime spot to observe this arctic passerine is Bocca di Selva.

In early 2012, as a result of natural dispersal, the encounter and stabilization of two wolves belonging to different populations occurred: a male namedSlavc belonging to the Dinaric population in dispersal fromSlovenia, monitored with a radio collar as part of the European project "Life SloWolf," and a female belonging to the Italian population. The presence of these two wolves in Lessinia is of extraordinary scientific interest and it is the first case - after the disappearance of the wolf in the Alps - that a pair of the species was formed with individuals belonging to two different populations: the Dinaric and the Italian populations. The wolf was present in the Alps until the end of the 19th century and, more sporadically, in the first decades of the 20th century.

In Veneto the last wolf sightings date back to 1931 in theBelluno area (Fossa, 1988), while in Lessinia the species seems to have disappeared in the first half of the 1800s (Garbini, 1898) , with sporadic isolated presences recorded in 1880 (Benetti, 2003). The wolf in Lessinia is historically linked to the socio-cultural traditions of the Cimbrian population, as attested by toponyms, fables, legends, proverbs and idioms dedicated to this animal.

In the locality "Riserva di Buse di Sopra" (Municipality ofVelo Veronese) there is astele bearing the following inscription:1657 - CO - VELO - P - IL - CAS0 - FORD0 - DI - MADA - DE - LA - VALLE - 1655. Near this is a well and a watering hole for watering grazing cattle, called the "Posso del Loo" and the "Possa del Loo," respectively. About the erection of this stele and the naming of the water deposits the following is what was told by the grandmother of one of the writers, A. Benetti: "In thecontrada "Valle della Ba" (Camposilvano) there lived in ancient times a woman named Maddalena. In thecontrada there were no wells from which to draw water and so the woman, when she was doing her "lissia" (laundry) would go all the way to the "Posso del Loo" (Wolf's Well). When she had to rinse it required a lot of water and so she preferred to take the "lissia" to the place thus saving a lot of effort. One day the "pora" Maddalena went to the "Posso del Loo" to rinse her laundry and while she was intent on this work, a wolf came out of the woods and ate her. The Wolf ate only the right side of her body, not being able to touch the left side because her heart beats there. After this fact, the Municipality of Velo had the plaque made to remind passersby to say a "requiem for that poor woman." The belief, still widespread in the Camposilvano area, that wolves could not feed on the left side of the human body, certainly arose from this case."^[77]

The presence of wolves in Lessinia is still controversial today, as it often divides city public opinion between those who view this presence positively and in favor of the proper maintenance of biodiversity, and those who see the presence of wolves as a major problem because of the large predation on farm animals. In Lessinia, 11 city councils voted unanimously in 2014 on municipal resolutions calling for the total relocation of the predator to other areas and the abandonment of the Life Wolfalps project.

Of particular interest are the small villages, surrounded by their dozens of contrade, comprising from two up to fifty dwellings, in the most mountainous part, above 800 m above sea level. In these contexts, the use of stone by taking advantage of the great availability of such material through quarries, compared to the more scarce availability of construction timber, has given rise to a peculiar feature.^[78] The dry-stone walls and the roofs of the houses are composed of stone slabs, reflecting the type of construction of the many huts. The floors of the houses, even after necessary renovations, have often been maintained with stone, with the ever-present fireplace inside and massive wooden beams to support the upper floors.

Stone was, in addition, used for boundary walls, wash houses, and when carved it was transformed into crosses and religious shrines often depicting thePassion of Christ or theVirgin Mary.^[79] Also widespread were theicehouses. Now abandoned, the most well-known and well maintained is that of Grietz, circular in shape, on the road connecting Bosco Chiesanuova with San Giorgio.

There are several museums in Lessinia, mostly naturalistic ones but with no shortage of ethnographic collections. The Bolca Fossil Museum devotes two rooms tofossil finds of more than 150 species of fish, 250 species of plants, as well as insects and minor fauna. At the Geopaleontological Museum in Camposilvano, fossils from theMesozoic andCenozoic periods found both on the plateau and in other regions can be found, thus providing a complete view of the geological and paleontological history of the place. The Paleontological and Prehistoric Museum of Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo displays artifacts found in stone quarries in the area including fossils of fish, sharks, marine reptiles, andammonites. There is also a section devoted to prehistory with objects found around Fumane. In Molina there is the Lessinia Botanical Museum, which boasts a collection of about 300 herbaceous, shrub and tree species typical of the area. A visit to the museum can be completed with a tour of the nearby Waterfall Park and a visit to the ancient stone courtyards.^[80]

The Roncà Fossil Museum, founded in 1975, offers evidence of the environment 40 million years ago such as fossils offoraminifera,mollusks,reptiles,mammals and plants. The Ethnographic Museum in Bosco Chiesanuova aims to illustrate the typical work of the people who once lived in Lessinia, such as wood cutting, charcoal making, milk processing, and ice making. InGiazza, the Museum of the Cimbri offers an exhibit related to the history, culture, and language of the ancient Cimbri. Finally, the Trombini Museum inSelva di Progno displays several types oftrombino including a Venetian-made specimen dating back to 1500. Mention should also be made of the Malga Derocon Flora-Fauna Area, inErbezzo, which allows visitors to observe specimens ofchamois,deer, androe deer in a state of semi-freedom, as well as 60 floristic species of Lessinia, a rock garden and some centuries-old beech trees.^[81]

The economy focuses mainly on animal husbandry, dairy production and the mining and processing ofRed Marble and Lessinia Stone.

Tourism in Lessinia is predominantly characterized by tourists from neighboring areas (especially the cities ofVerona andMantua).

• Parish church of San Giorgio di Valpolicella, in San Giorgio ofSant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella. Built on an earlierLombard temple, of which there is still an interestingciborium, theRomanesque building was erected in the 11th century. In the Middle Ages it housed a college of priests and a seminary.
• Church of San Leonardo on Mount Moro, inSan Mauro di Saline. The present building was built in 1388 on an earlier small church, probably destroyed by fire adjoining a monastery of which, in 1145, the prior was a certain Lanfranco. Outside, on the right, is a vast portico used to accommodate the many pilgrims who visited the church. The walls of the naves are adorned with 17th and 18th-century frescoes.
• Church of San Giovanni in Loffa, inSant'Anna d'Alfaedo. The building is supposed to date from the 13th century, although the first written traces are found only more than a century later.
• Church of St. Anthony, in Vestenavecchia (VR). It was erected by the bishops in the late 13th century on the ruins of the castle (and with materials from it) and was dedicated toSt. Anthony the Abbot. The church was remodeled on the outside in 1537; in 1650 both the elegantBaroque altar and theapse were erected, which for years guarded an ancient wooden crucifix from the 16th century.

• Veja Bridge, inSant'Anna d'Alfaedo, is anatural arch with an archway of about forty meters, a minimum thickness of nine meters and a width of twenty meters.
• Molina Waterfall Park, in Molina ofFumane, is a nature park famous for its waterfalls.
• Prun Quarries, inNegrar, are ancient underground marble quarries. According to historical sources, these monumental quarries already existed in the early 13th century.
• Riparo Solinas, in Fumane, currently known asFumane Cave, was inhabited for a very long period ranging from about 60,000 years ago with presences ofHomo neanderthalensis until the collapse of the cave allegedly 25,000 years ago as a consequence and effect ofglaciation.

The mountains of Lessinia offer numerous opportunities for sportsmen. In the winter period in the area around Malga San Giorgio (locality ofBosco Chiesanuova) there was aski resort with severalski lifts. Malga San Giorgio is also one of the departures (along with those of Passo delle Fittanze and Bocca di Selva) of the famous Fondo Alta Lessinia center, across-country skiing route that winds through the most beautiful corners of the mountain range, reaching altitudes ranging from 1390 to 1755 m.

In summer Lessinia sees the presence of many hikers, and in recent years the presence ofmountain bikers has grown considerably. The dirt trails through the alpine pastures have appealed to off-road bicycle enthusiasts. In the areas around Sega di Ala, the Lessinia Bike was held every year, a race in which many athletes competed on a route that passed through the most picturesque places in western Lessinia. The eastern part, on the other hand, is the scene of many editions of another important mountain bike race: the Lessinia Legend. Also important is the presence ofracing bike enthusiasts, whose favorite destination is the crossing of the Passo delle Fittanze, particularly the tough climb that starts from Sdruzzinà (Ala).

• Venetian Prealps
• Vicariate of Valpolicella

• "Riprese aeree di Roberto Mettifogo del Parco della Lessinia ed alcune zone limitrofe". Archived fromthe original on November 6, 2013. RetrievedMay 2, 2019.
• "Associazione Verona Birdwatching: resoconti ornitologici".
• "Film Festival della Lessinia".
• "Guida alle Prealpi Veronesi (Baldo, Carega, Lessinia, Valpolicella)". Archived fromthe original on March 7, 2008. RetrievedApril 14, 2020.
• "Fiori della Lessinia". RetrievedJune 8, 2012.
• "lessiniafood.it". Archived fromthe original on August 11, 2017. RetrievedJuly 19, 2019.
• "Pecora Brogna". RetrievedOctober 21, 2022.

• Province of Verona
• Province of Vicenza
• Trentino
• Protected areas of Italy
• Plateaus of Italy

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