Verna Botanic Trail

The Verna Botanic Trail is highly recommended to observe Roero typical vegetation and flora: in few kilometres visitors can enjoy three different environments, where species of trees and plants with peculiar needs grow. From the humid areas rich of water – a paradise for common alders, equisetum and ferns – the trail run across areas characterized by milder microclimate – suitable for mesophilic environment – as far as the dry climate of arid hilltops, where glacial relict scots pines show off.

The trail starts from the tiny piazza in Saliceto hamlet. Hikers are immediately offered the view of several exemplars of verna black alders. The path goes on through a highly varied vegetation: thorny wood at first dominates – perennial shrubs, such as locusts and rubus ulmifolius, whose excellent blackberries can be tasted in summer. After having passed by Rio Verna on a stone path, the trail most humid area is reached, bordered by dog-toothed violets, periwinkles and kidneyworts. Then the trail enters the mesophilic environment, where blooms of primulas, lilies of the valley and anemones can be enjoyed in spring.

At the path end, vegetation gets typical of the dry woods, characterized by dry soil: scots pines, oak trees, junipers, hawthorns, and brooms. The ring trail ends back towards Saliceto along the same path.

TRAIL AUDIO GUIDE: to make use of the audio guide with integrated gpx track, you can download the free app Izi.Travel on your smartphone and activate the geolocation: in this way an automatic narration will be activated in the points of interest telling stories and curiosities.
Audio guide pre-viewable also on browser by clicking here.