Tonezza del Cimone
Tonezza del Cimone is a small mountain municipality in the Alto Vicentino, perched on a plateau at around 1,000 metres at the foot...
Updated 12 July 2026
The story
The story of Tonezza del Cimone
A holiday plateau in the Alto Vicentino
Tonezza del Cimone stands on a plateau at around 1,000 metres of altitude, in the mountainous Alto Vicentino area bordering Trentino, in a position that already in the Habsburg era made it a summer holiday destination for Veneto bourgeois families, drawn by the cool climate and views over the valleys below. Almost completely destroyed during the First World War because of its strategic position, it was rebuilt after the war and over the course of the twentieth century consolidated its tourist vocation, becoming a small mountain resort particularly appreciated by families from Vicenza and the Veneto.
Monte Cimone and the memory of the Great War
Monte Cimone, which overlooks the village, was one of the bloodiest theatres of the Vicenza front during the First World War, contested between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies for its commanding position over the valley. On the summit and along its slopes, trenches, communication paths and remains of tunnels dug into the rock are still visible, while a war memorial preserves the memory of the soldiers who fell in this fighting. Visiting the Cimone today combines a nature hike with historical reflection, offering one of the most intense Great War memory trails on the Vicenza plateau.
Skiing and winter activities on a human scale
Tonezza has a small ski area with slopes suited mainly to families and beginners, designed for a relaxed experience rather than large numbers, in keeping with the village's scale. Alongside downhill skiing, the plateau also offers cross-country skiing and snowshoe walks across meadows and snow-covered woods, a simple but genuine winter offer that reflects its character as a nearby mountain resort rather than a major Alpine destination. The local accommodation, modest in size, keeps a family atmosphere that many Vicenza families choose precisely for this reason, returning year after year.
Summer hiking and views over the Pre-Alps
In summer, the Tonezza plateau becomes a starting point for hikes of varying difficulty, from easier trails through meadows and woods to routes climbing towards the Cimone summit and the ridges marking the border with Trentino. The views take in the Piccole Dolomiti, the Asiago Plateau and the Vicenza plain, offering a broad panorama that rewards the climb even for less experienced hikers, thanks to well-marked and not overly demanding trails. The cool high-altitude climate makes the walks pleasant even in the hottest months, when the plain below suffers from summer humidity and heat.
A nearby mountain, not a major Alpine hub
It is fair to frame Tonezza for what it truly is: a small mountain holiday resort, not comparable in size and infrastructure to the major Alpine destinations of Trentino or South Tyrol. Its strength lies exactly in this, in being a family-scale mountain, reachable in a short time from Vicenza and the plain, where one can find quiet, fresh air and a simple but well-kept offer, both in winter and summer, without the queues and large crowds of the better-known ski destinations.
Experiences not to miss
- Climb Monte Cimone among trenches, tunnels and the Great War memorial
- Ski or snowshoe on the plateau in winter
- Walk the summer trails with views of the Piccole Dolomiti and Asiago Plateau
- Enjoy the cool climate and views typical of Vicenza mountain holidays
- Discover the story of the village's reconstruction after the First World War
Routes · Trovido Route
