Founded in the heart of the “Foresta dei Dogi”, part of the Serenissima Republic of Venice and a strategic hub for the supply of precious timber for the lagoon’s naval power, the casera served as a summer base for mountain grazing. From May to September, shepherds would bring their flocks out of the stables to go “mountain grazing” and take advantage of the grazing rights Venice had granted them.

Used for this purpose until 1971, the casera was abandoned for a period until, in the 1990s, it was taken over by its current owners, the Dell’Antonia family, who, with love and great respect for its history, have managed to restore it to its original beauty.

We have become custodians of the flavors and history of this unspoiled corner of the world.

(Gabriele Dell’Antonia)

Thanks to a conservative restoration, all the ancient features of the structure have been brought to light, embellished with objects and decorations typical of mountain huts. Thanks to this wonderful restoration, today you can admire the characteristic 17th-century “larín” (fireplace) where the milk was processed and, in the central hall, the typical slits of the “refrigeration” area where the milk was left to rise to the surface of the cream used to make butter.

In every corner, delightful centerpieces and ornaments reflecting the seasons are lovingly crafted by Antonia, from playful sheep to floral arrangements created with typical local flora.

The cuisine, expertly orchestrated by Mauro Spinadin, features flavorful and authentic mountain dishes: from cheese platters to Cansiglio appetizers with venison carpaccio and raspberry sauce, from homemade dumplings to fabulous home-grown lamb main courses. Don’t miss traditional recipes, such as pastìn (a hamburger made with selected pork and beef) or venison stew with polenta. The ingredients—meat, vegetables, wild herbs, and fruit—are mostly farm-grown, grown on the surrounding land, or sourced from other local artisanal farms.

From May to October, you can enjoy the company of the Dell’Antonia family’s flock, which grazes along the hillside, further enhancing the bucolic beauty of the surrounding landscape, which embraces the mountain hut from every angle.

These aren’t just any sheep, but Suffolk sheep originally from Great Britain (like Wallace and Gromit’s, for example), truly beautiful with their distinctive black muzzles and legs contrasting with their thick white coats.

Perfect for both lunch and dinner, the casera offers outdoor wooden tables overlooking the Pian del Cansiglio in the summer, while in the winter you can choose from various dining rooms, including the very charming one with the old 17th-century fireplace.

As if all this weren’t enough to make Casera Le Rotte one of the most unique locations in the Veneto region, its location also makes it the protagonist of two of the most extraordinary natural phenomena in the world.

Not far away are the Caglieron Caves, a wonderful circular trail among waterfalls, potholes, and wooden walkways, some of which are suspended, that seems straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.

Meanwhile, from mid-September to mid-October, the valley in front of the Casera becomes the site of an exceptional phenomenon: during the estrus season, hundreds of deer gather here to mate, and it’s a true spectacle to witness their bellowing and, if you’re lucky, their amorous skirmishes. During this time, the Casera is definitely worth a visit, perhaps booking dinner in the evening, when the deer are more likely to be seen.

If you’d like to go on a hike, you can contact a local Environmental Hiking Guide, who will be of fundamental assistance both to fully and safely enjoy the experience and to respect the delicate natural balance of the Cansiglio Forest and the privacy of these majestic animals.

The Secret

For centuries, the Cansiglio Forest was crucial to the Republic of Venice, which used its wood to build ships, especially oars, earning it the nickname “Bosco da Reme” or “Bosco dei Dogi.”

Useful Info

Casera Le Rotte
Via dei Cimbri 3
Loc. Pian Cansiglio
31010 Fregona, Treviso
Tel. +39 338 1425385

Starters: 9 — 11 euro
First courses: 9,50 — 10 euro
Second courses: 10 — 21 euro