Valstagna Gorge (Canale di Brenta)

The Valstagna Gorge, properly the Canale di Brenta, is a deep, narrow valley in the province of Vicenza where the Brenta River carves between the steep flanks of the Asiago plateau and the Grappa massif in the Veneto pre-Alps. For centuries this was a hard, ingenious landscape: villagers terraced the near-vertical slopes with dry-stone walls to grow tobacco and chestnuts, building the masiere terraces and tiny hamlets that still cling improbably to the cliffs above the river. The gorge centres on the village of Valstagna (now part of the comune of Valbrenta) and offers a striking combination of dramatic scenery and outdoor adventure. The Brenta here is a classic spot for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing, with operators running guided descents through lively rapids, while the old towpath and valley floor have been turned into a flat, scenic cycle and walking route along the river, part of the long-distance Brenta cycle path linking Bassano del Grappa to the mountains. Walkers can also climb the restored terraced trails, such as the Calà del Sasso, famously said to have 4,444 steps, one of the longest stairways in the world, which once carried timber down from the plateau. The area sees few foreign tourists and retains an authentic, rugged feel, with small trattorie serving local specialities. A visit ranges from a couple of hours' cycle along the river to a full day of rafting or hiking. Spring and early summer bring the best river flow for paddling, while autumn paints the wooded slopes in colour. Photographers favour the terraced cliffs and the river gorge from the valley road and bridges. Set in the mountainous north of Italy's Veneto region near Bassano del Grappa, the Canale di Brenta rewards active visitors and lovers of dramatic, little-known landscapes.