From farmhouse to fortress

Cultural curiosities between Val Rendena and Judicaria

Ready? Go! The first stretch of this stage of the Do-Ga takes the form of a slight descent towards Caderzone. North of the town centre, a small detour from the tourist cycling route will take you to a fine example of local rural architecture.

 

The Maso Curio Farmhouse

The Maso Curio farmhouse dates back to the 14th century, with a construction which is half-brickwork, half-larch wood. Particularly interesting are the shingled roof, the huge wooden pillars, and the tabià: a hole in the floor of the first-floor hay loft which serves to drop hay directly into the stables on the ground floor.

This building has endured the ravages of time and weather better than cement ever could, and has recently undergone refurbishment. Today, the Maso Curio farmhouse is still used for breeding livestock following traditional methods.

Madonna di Campiglio - Val Rendena - Pista ciclabile

Scaling the Daone Pass

When you've finished this visit, you can begin scaling the Daone Pass. The climb begins once you’ve passed Spiazzo: here, you’ll need to make sure the batteries of your e-bike are fully charged, or that you’re in good shape if you plan on doing the legwork yourself. If you’d rather avoid the climb, you can take the alternative Do-Ga route towards Tione, which rejoins the main path close to Preore.

After conquering the climb with its 600-metre increase in altitude, you’ve got to descend by the same amount to get to Preore, then proceed along a slight slope to Stenico.

The DoGa cycling route: between Val Rendena and Judicaria

Stenico Castle

Stenico is famous for its castle, which dates back to 1163. It did not begin life as a residence, but rather as a series of fortifications to defend the villages of Banale, Lomaso and Bleggio.

Up until the 16th century, the castle withstood numerous external attacks and peasant uprisings, on each occasion undergoing modifications and expansions such as those overseen by Giovanni Hinderbarch. Finally, it was given artistic embellishment in the form of paintings ordered by Bernardo Clesio, to make the castle more typical of Renaissance residences.

More recently, Castel Stenico was the seat of the tax offices for the Austrian empire, and was used as a barracks during the Great War. Today, the manor is in excellent condition and you can visit it during your tour.

After your visit, it’s time to saddle up and descend to Terme di Comano, the ideal place to relax and — why not? — enjoy the pleasures and benefits of the spa waters.

Discover the full Do-Ga route

Discover the full Do-Ga route

by bike
Published on 06/06/2023