Hermitage of St Valentine, from Frazione Sasso

Access

Brescia Ovest exit of the A4 motorway. Continue east along the Tangenziale Sud/SS11 and then on the SS45 bis/Gardesana Occidentale. Leave the turnoff for Salò on the right and, along the coast of Lake Garda, drive through Gardone Riviera, Fasano, Maderno, Toscolano, Bogliaco and Villa. Shortly after the junction for Gargnano, the road climbs slightly until it meets, on the left, the SP9 for Capovalle-Lake Idro-Magasa-Valvestino. You climb up the provincial road with numerous bends until you reach the sixth hairpin bend, from where there is a fine view of Musaga and the church of San Antonio di Sasso (with the slopes of Monte Comer as a backdrop). Continue to a fork in the road (486 m), turn right to the next fork in the road (516 m) and right again to Sasso (531 m), where you park.

Introduction

Easy, short and very popular excursion in the Alto Garda Bresciano Park. The itinerary leads to the hermitage of San Valentino, a white building under a large overhanging rock, consisting of small rooms, a small church with a bell tower and surrounded by tall cypress trees. The church of St Valentine was erected around 1650 by survivors of the plague of 1630. This scourge had claimed 400 victims of the then 3000 inhabitants of the municipality of Gargnano. Today, it is believed to be a good omen to ring the bell by pulling its string. Inside the church there is a profile, dated 1859, of Geremia Paladini di Cassone di Brenzone, "el Romet de San Valentì", who, from 1849 to 1865, the year of his death, took up residence in the building, perhaps for renunciation of military obligations under Austrian rule or perhaps for other reasons that have never been revealed. The profile portrays the hermit as he was seen passing from village to village, with sack and stick, begging for alms. Also kept in the church is a picture painted by the hermit himself, depicting St Valentine at the feet of the Madonna and with the author beside him.

Description

We traverse, on a slight incline, the whole of the hamlet of Sasso (531m) and arrive at the far end of the hamlet near a fine fountain (be careful, the water is not drinkable) with a wash-house. On one of the walls, the red and white marker number [31] is clearly visible, indicating the mule track for San Valentino, Briano and Cima Comer. The road, past some vegetable gardens and a chestnut grove, proceeds, initially, practically level until it reaches a first stream with a small waterfall. The mule track now narrows and begins to climb through a wood of hornbeams, ash trees, oaks and scotani, until it crosses the Valle di San Martino and then continues more steeply until it reaches a rocky crag with a panoramic view of Gargnano, the Monte Baldo chain and Lake Garda. A little further on, leave trail marker 31, which climbs to the left towards the Cima Comer, and go along a level stretch and descend into a steep but short little valley on a stairway of rocky steps. At the bottom of the little valley, on the left, climb up to the door to the Hermitage of St Valentine. Now open the door with a little force and care. In fact, the door is kept closed at the back by a stone tied to a rope that runs in a pulley. A few more bends on a stepped path and you reach the grassy terrace, surrounded by tall cypress trees, where the Hermitage of St Valentine (772m) stands. Next to the hermitage, closed by a rudimentary wooden door, there is a rocky cavity generally full of water.
From the hermitage the view is truly remarkable: below is clearly visible the town of Gargnano and the "Villa Feltrinelli" (now converted into a luxurious hotel), called "Villa del Duce" by the locals for having hosted Benito Mussolini during the period of the Republic of Salò. In the distance the chain of Monte Baldo is reflected in the blue waters of Lake Garda.
It is possible to visit the small church and the surrounding places.
The descent follows the same route as the outward journey.

General Information

Path: from Sasso
Signposts: 31
Type of route: a/r
Recommended period: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Sun exposure:east