A walk among the typical “contrade” (districts) up to the cross on the passes of the Great War. The route to the Bocchese peak requires little physical effort and can be taken from several starting points: from the center of San Quirico, from the Pellichero district just above the Montagna Spaccata, from Fongara, or from the Recoaro quarters on the slopes of Mount Spitz via the Giochele Pass.
From San Quirico
From the square of the hamlet, walk about a hundred meters along provincial road 246 toward Recoaro until you take a small path on the left that threads its way behind houses. The slope soon becomes steep, between vegetable gardens and terracing, until you pass a small hut on the left, after which the trail becomes flatter. Continue following old red signs toward contrada Castagna from where Mount Turigi and Faedo can be seen. Just above the contrada a forest road begins with a signpost for cima Bocchese. It climbs through the woods for about half an hour and reaches the base of the summit. A last stretch of short winding ascent leads to the knoll where the large cross is located. From the summit there is a fine view of the districts of Rovegliana and the Civillina and Scandolara mountains, while turning your gaze to the opposite side you can make out the church of Fongara with Mount Campetto and Marana peak. Toward the south you can also spot the old cross that stands on a minor tip of the ridge of Bocchese peak among the limestone rocks.
Resistance lines
Right here passed the third line of resistance in 1918, which became "Orthogonal 2," beginning at Mount Obante, touching the Lora Pass and continuing on the Campodavanti-Monte Falcone ridges and then bending toward Mount Spitz in Recoaro Terme, reaching Bocchese Peak and then descending to the Agno at Contrada Beschi, crossing the stream at Molino d'Agno and ascending toward Civillina. Mount Spitz also grafted onto the stretch of strategic line that from La Gazza Hill rested on the important strongholds of the Anghebe and Rove Ring. To complete the circular track, at this point, it is best to descend to contrada Busati where there is the "Casa de Abramo," which has become a small ecomuseum for the protection and enhancement of rural society, preserving tools and machines made by Abramo Busato himself. To reach it, then, from the summit, continue towards Giochele Pass and, keeping to the left, follow a winding dirt road through the woods until you meet another path that leads directly to contrada Busati. From here, by a path in the valley, you return to contrada Sandri and the square of San Quirico. The three- to four-hour trail is also ideal for families. Another alternative is to start from contrada Beschi at the Bonomini, just after San Quirico, and ascend to contrada Riva crossing contrada Castagna and continuing to the summit.
From Fongara
If, on the other hand, you decide to start from a higher point, you need to take the road from San Quirico to Recoaro Mille along which you meet the hamlet of Fongara where, at the church, you can leave your car. Taking the downhill road, once you reach the first houses you descend on the right along a mule track to the locality of Prenero and, having arrived at a junction with the aqueduct, you keep to the left, descending further in altitude until you reach the landslide in the locality of Fanton. Here you go back up, first on the meadows then in the woods to the ridge, continuing after reaching a forest road. With ups and downs without difficulty you reach contrada Busati and from here cima Bocchese with its 924 meters of altitude. We continue by taking another mule track in good condition to, then, ascend toward Mount Sengio where the cross stands at 960 meters. At this point the tour can continue by descending toward the Giochele Pass, then climbing slightly to a small hut that stands on the road leading to Mount Spitz. Return to the car by taking the road that leads to the village of Fanton and then descend until returning to Fongara. (GdV, domenica 24 marzo)