Cerro

The district of Cerro is 17 kilometres apart from Verona, on the Monti Lessini. The name “Cerro” is linked to the majestic oak-cork, a secular tree that is next to the parish church.

The human presence is documented since the Paleolithic. In the fourteenth century, the Cimbri, ancient people of Germanic or Celtic origin, colonized the territory.

Not far from the town center, on top of the Mount of the Cross, is the Chapel of the Redeemer. It is a building with an octagonal structure, built in 1900 and consecrated by Pope Leo X to Christ the Redeemer. Inside the Chapel, a ladder leads to an external balcony, at the height of the roof, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over the surrounding area. On cloudless days you can see the whole chain of the Southern Apennines.

The Giassara dei Carcereri was built 200 years ago and it is the only survivor of the 27 “giassare” (ice house) of Cerro. The structure, which fell into disuse after World War II, is in good condition and consists of a circular stone building for the storage of ice, and a porch with a unique sloping. Near the Giassara there is a circular pool. A staircase allows entrance into the deposit and reaches the bottom of the icebox.

The Giassara hosts within the Museo Ergologico, established in 1990, which contains illustrations and descriptions of the activities of “giassaroi”, for the manufacturing and sale of ice.

The “Còale del Mondo” is located in Vajo of Carcarèta, so called for the presence of a limestone. The exact name should be Còale di Edmondo from the name of the owner. The Còale is an old water pipe, dug into the rocks eroded by the river. This cavern returned a number of stone tools of the Neolithic like arrowheads and scrapers.