South of Vicenza lie the Berici Hills, a group of rolling hills formed on the bed of an ancient sea.
In our hills, you can lose yourself between a waterfall and a church, a villa and a castle.
You can lose yourself among vineyards and fruit trees.
In these areas, the nature trails blend with the gastronomic routes: from wine to oil, from truffles to cherries, from cheeses to the famous ham.
The gastronomy of the Berici Hills is of very high quality, thanks to the climatic balance of these areas.
Various types of wine, both red and white, are produced in the area.
Vineyards alternate in the landscape with olive trees, though in limited quantities. This cultivation has made a comeback after many years and is mainly found in the areas of Nanto, Barbarano, Villaga, Castegnero and Sossano.
This type of oil is well suited for raw vegetables due to its rich flavor.
Also famous is the oil fromArquà Petrarca, a town rich in slopes where olive trees are cultivated.
In the preparation of first courses, the Berici Hills trufflestands out, widely used in local restaurants and available in greengrocers’ shops or at the mushroom market under the Palladian Basilica in Vicenza.
In the southeastern Berici Hills, Castegnero stands out. Here, the main crop cultivated in the transition zone between the plain and the slopes of Monte Castellaro is the cherry. It boasts a specific variety, the so-called Mora di Castegnero.
The fruit is a medium-early cherry, with tender, dark flesh and very sweet.
Besides these products, the local gastronomy is famous for its peas, with the typical dish of risi e bisi, for its honey, for its red radicchio, and the Vicenza D.O.P. soppressa.
In short, there is no shortage of gastronomic choices in this territory.
GASTRONOMY OF THE BERICI HILLS: THE VENETO DOP HAM
When talking about the gastronomy of the Berici Hills, one cannot fail to mention its flagship product: the Veneto ham Berici Euganean D.O.C. Years ago, when farmers finished their work in the fields, they thought about slaughtering the pig.
The changing seasons favored the butchers who managed salting, drying, and aging. From
June onwards, the products obtained were distributed to delicatessens. The production area of the Veneto Berici Euganean D.O.C ham is limited to
15 municipalities in the provinces of Padua , Vicenza, and Veronaincluded in the areas of the Berici and Euganean Hills. It is in these zones that the entire transformation of the raw material takes place. In the local gastronomy, Veneto D.O.P ham accompanies appetizers, first and second courses, as well as very flavorful side dishes. Being a lightly salted ham low in fat and protein, it also suits dietary regimes.
In the local cuisine, Veneto D.O.P. ham is paired with appetizers, first and second courses, as well as very flavorful side dishes. Being a ham that is low in salt, fat, and protein, it also suits dietary regimes.
TYPICAL DISHES OF THE BERICI HILLS
The
Vicenza D.O.P. soppressa is a soft-textured salami with a slightly sweet and peppery flavor, made from a strict selection of meats, all sourced locally, and from the noble cuts of pork. The Vicenza soppressa differs from other salamis by its thick, curved shape and its compact yet tender mixture., a soft pasta with a slightly sweet and peppery flavor, is made from a strict selection of meats, all sourced from the local area, and from the prime cuts of pork. Vicenza soppressa differs from other cured meats due to its thick, curved shape and its compact yet tender texture.
schissotto,” a typical bread prepared and consumed in the Euganean Hills and the lower Padua area, with a very ancient tradition.This bread contains no yeast in the dough, which gives it its characteristic flattened and pressed shape.
The traditional baking takes place in the fireplace, under a lid covered with embers. It pairs perfectly with salami and cheeses.
A meal cannot end without a typical local dessert. The typical sweets are dry types; the
pazientini are biscuits made with almonds, hazelnuts, butter, and no eggs. Thetorta pazientina is a layered cake topped with layers of chocolate.And the
fugassa is a typical homemade sweet.Every restaurant or pastry shop in the Berici Hills area offers these sweet products.
Absolutely a must-try or to take home.
Absolutely a must-try or to take home.