The Avisio’s guardian farmhouses

<p>From Capriana to the Avisio stream along footpaths leading to historic working farmhouses</p>

<p>From the centre of Capriana continue to Cao de Villa before turning onto the itinerary known as “Sentiero botanico naturalistico” (Lago Santo - Prà del Manz) through extremely diverse natural environments: open countryside, woods, scree and fields packed with plants including a great many medicinal herbs.</p> <p>Keeping left the path descends to the state road, crosses it and continues downhill into the woods on a footpath to the left. It then passes the ruins of a historic mill and crosses a small stream before reaching a fork at which you take the right hand path towards the valley to an attractive fishing hut. From here a brief detour takes you down to the Avisio stream, a long ravine and a wooded loop in the stream closed off with sheer rocks. Its sandy stream bed is punctuated with traces of birds, mammals and insects.</p> <p>The fishing hut is the starting point for the climb up to Maso Conti, one of the houses in the historic farmhouse complex and recently restored by Julia and Stefano, who set up an organic farm here which also includes a small dairy.</p> <p>The route continues with a steep climb up to Malga Doss, another building which is still lived in, with another interesting farm managed by the Corradi family which grows saffron and vegetables and makes honey. It then continues to the state road, crosses it and continues climbing to rejoin the botanical footpath you took on the outward journey on which you retrace your steps to Capriana</p>