San Mauro di Saline
San Mauro di Saline è uno dei comuni più piccoli e più alti della Lessinia veronese, arroccato nella parte alta della valle che pr...
Ενημερώθηκε στις 12 Ιουλίου 2026
Η ιστορία
Η ιστορία του/της San Mauro di Saline
In the high Verona Lessinia
San Mauro di Saline occupies the eastern part of the Lessinia, the pre-Alpine plateau north of Verona, in an elevated position that makes it one of the highest municipalities in the entire province. The municipal territory develops in the Valle di Saline, a side valley rising from the Illasi valley floor towards the ridges marking the border with the province of Vicenza, in a landscape dominated by beech woods, summit pastures and rocky outcrops typical of the karstic Lessinia. It is a lesser-known area compared to the central Lessinia, but no less authentic for that: here the mountains are still experienced in an almost secluded dimension.
A village of mountain huts and pastures
The historical economy of San Mauro di Saline has always been based on cattle farming and mountain dairy production, with several mountain huts active in the municipal territory that, even today, in the summer months bring livestock up to graze according to the traditional practice of transhumance. This livestock-farming vocation has shaped the landscape, made of open pastures alternating with coppice woods and beech stands, and has left behind cheeses and dairy products that remain among the few products with a strong local identity. It is a fragile mountain economy that in recent decades has had to contend with depopulation, but which continues to hold on thanks to a few still-active farms.
Trails and views over the Lessinia
The territory of San Mauro di Saline is crossed by a network of trails and forest roads connecting the village to the mountain huts and surrounding ridges, offering scenic viewpoints over the eastern Lessinia and, on clear days, towards the Vicenza Prealps. These are routes suited to medium-difficulty hikes, less frequented than the better-known trails of the Lessinia plateau, and for this reason particularly appreciated by those seeking authentic, quiet mountains. There are no ski lifts or facilities for mass tourism: hiking here remains a simple activity, tied to walking pace and the slow discovery of the territory.
A small village between depopulation and authenticity
Like many mountain municipalities in the eastern Lessinia, San Mauro di Saline has seen a progressive decline in resident population over recent decades, with several hamlets and hamlets-within-hamlets retaining only a minimal presence of permanent residents, often tied to farming and livestock activities. It should be said honestly: this is not a municipality equipped for structured tourism, and those looking for services, widespread dining or organised events should head towards the larger centres of the Lessinia such as Bosco Chiesanuova or Erbezzo. What San Mauro di Saline does offer, however, is direct contact with a still largely untamed mountain, where the landscape has kept its essential character intact.
Mountain hut cuisine and products
The culinary tradition of San Mauro di Saline closely reflects its livestock-farming vocation: mountain-hut cheeses, butter, smoked ricotta and other mountain dairy products represent the territory's most authentic offerings, often available directly from the few mountain huts still active during the summer season. It is simple, hearty cuisine, tied to the rhythms of farming and the seasonal availability of produce, far removed from the structured tourist dining found in other, better-known parts of the Lessinia. For those wanting to taste a genuine piece of Verona mountain life, this is probably the most authentic aspect to seek out in the village.
Experiences not to miss
- Walk the trails connecting the village to the mountain huts of the Valle di Saline
- Taste the cheeses and dairy products made in the still-active mountain huts
- Admire the views over the eastern Lessinia and towards the Vicenza Prealps
- Cross the beech woods and high-altitude pastures
- Experience a quiet mountain day far from the more crowded routes
Routes · Trovido Route
