Velo Veronese
Velo Veronese is one of the most authentic municipalities on the Lessinia plateau, in the heart of the Verona mountains
Updated 12 July 2026
The story
The story of Velo Veronese
The Covolo di Camposilvano
In the hamlet of Camposilvano lies the Covolo, a large natural cavity formed by a collapse, open to the outside and shaped like an irregular quarter-sphere: about 70 metres wide, 35 metres high and 50 metres deep. Its microclimate is so extreme that summer snowfalls are possible, and traces of human presence dating back 50,000 to 70,000 years have been found inside. The visit starts at the Camposilvano Geopaleontological Museum, which houses fossils and finds from the area, and the entrance ticket includes both the museum and access to the Covolo. It is one of the most surprising geological experiences in all of Lessinia.
The Valle delle Sfingi
North of Camposilvano, at around 1,200 metres altitude, lies the Valle delle Sfingi, an erosive phenomenon caused by the disintegration of Red Ammonite Limestone and San Vigilio Oolite layers, typical of the Venetian prealpine belt. The result is a genuine "rock city", with spires, pinnacles and shapes sculpted by time that resemble anthropomorphic figures, hence the name. An approximately 800-metre trail crosses the valley, allowing visitors to admire these formations up close in a striking landscape setting. It is a beloved destination for hikers and families, easily reachable on foot from the Covolo car park.
Mountain huts and Monte Veronese cheese
The plateau around Velo Veronese is dotted with active mountain huts, where livestock graze in summer and Monte Veronese DOP is still produced using traditional techniques. Some huts offer meals and direct sales of cheese, ricotta and cured meats, turning a hike into a genuine gastronomic occasion too. The landscape is typical of Lessinia: green meadows dotted with dry-stone walls, beech and fir woods, and a silence broken only by cattle bells. It is a high-altitude agricultural economy that still endures today, offering visitors an authentic taste of Verona's mountain dairy culture.
A genuine mountain municipality
Velo Veronese is not a monumental centre but a municipality spread across several hamlets immersed in the plateau's greenery, with buildings in local stone and an economy still tied to pastoral farming, woodlands and hiking tourism. The main village retains a small historic core with the parish church and a few shops, while the real life of the municipality unfolds in the mountain huts and trails connecting the various localities. It is a place designed for those seeking genuine mountains, without large-scale ski facilities or oversized tourist infrastructure, but with a network of well-marked trails that make Lessinia accessible even to non-expert hikers.
Hiking the trails of Lessinia
The municipal territory is crossed by a dense network of CAI trails connecting Camposilvano to other localities on the plateau, with routes suitable for both families and more experienced walkers. In winter, the plateau also lends itself to easy snowshoe outings, while in spring and summer the blooming meadows and cool altitude make Velo Veronese an ideal destination to escape the heat of the Verona plain. The combination of spectacular geology, mountain-hut cuisine and well-maintained trails makes this municipality one of the most solid reference points for nature tourism in Lessinia.
Experiences not to miss
- Visit the Covolo di Camposilvano and its unique microclimate
- Walk among the carved rocks of the Valle delle Sfingi
- Explore the Camposilvano Geopaleontological Museum
- Taste Monte Veronese DOP cheese directly at a mountain hut
- Hike the CAI trails across the Lessinia plateau
Routes · Trovido Route
