Conco
Conco is a small mountain locality in the Vicenza foothills, spread across the southern slope of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni (A...
Updated 13 July 2026
The story
The story of Conco
The foothills and the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni
Conco lies on the southern edge of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, also known as the Asiago Plateau, a vast mountainous area that rises abruptly above the Vicenza plain. This hinge position between plain and mountain makes the area particularly interesting from a landscape point of view: within a few kilometres the terrain shifts from terraced hills to dense woodland and up to high-altitude pastures. The municipal territory of Lusiana Conco, of which Conco is part, covers an area marked by significant elevation changes and a succession of scattered hamlets and hillside settlements. Being at the gateway to the Plateau means being able to quickly reach both the area's better-known centres and its quieter corners, ideal for those looking for a slower, less touristy pace of visit.
Woods, meadows and malghe: Conco's landscape
The landscape around Conco alternates beech and fir woods with stretches of meadows and pastures, dotted with malghe that, during the summer months, still host livestock grazing today. These structures, often simple stone buildings with wooden roofs, are a defining feature of the entire Altopiano dei Sette Comuni and bear witness to a centuries-old mountain economy based on pastoralism and dairy production. Walking through Conco's hamlets, visitors come across clearings opening onto the valley, dry-stone walls and small rural settlements that preserve the area's traditional architecture. The variety of environments, from dense forest to open pasture, makes the territory suitable both for those seeking the coolness of summer shade and for those who prefer open views over the plain below.
Hiking and trails on the Plateau
The network of trails crossing Conco's territory and connecting to the wider trail system of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni offers routes suited to different levels of fitness, from simple walks between hamlets to more demanding hikes towards higher elevations. The paths lead through woods, past malghe and up to viewpoints from which the eye sweeps across the Vicenza plain. Hiking here can be enjoyed all year round: in spring and summer amid the vivid green of the meadows, in autumn among the colours of the forest, and in winter with the chance of snow walks on the easier stretches. Those who love walking at altitude will find in Conco a quiet base from which to gradually explore the Plateau, without needing to cover long distances by car.
Cimbrian traditions and mountain culture
The Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, whose southern slope Conco shares, is historically linked to the presence of Cimbrian communities, German-speaking populations who settled these mountains from the Middle Ages onwards. This legacy is still reflected today in place names, local traditions and the material culture tied to mountain life, from livestock farming to woodworking. In Conco, as in the rest of the Plateau, the memory of this history is intertwined with more recent events that shaped the area, including those of the First World War, which closely affected the entire mountainous Vicenza territory. Knowing this past helps one read the landscape with different eyes: every malga, every trail and every hamlet carries traces of a borderland culture, shaped by adaptation to the mountains and exchange between different worlds.
Life in a small alpine community
Conco retains the characteristics of a small mountain community, organised into several hamlets scattered across the territory rather than concentrated in a single compact centre. This settlement pattern, common to many parts of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, reflects a way of inhabiting the mountains historically tied to agricultural and forestry-pastoral land use. Since 2019, following the merger into Lusiana Conco, administrative management has been shared with neighbouring Lusiana, but daily life in Conco's hamlets keeps its own rhythm, marked by the seasons and by activities linked to the mountains. For visitors, this translates into a genuine atmosphere, far from mass tourism dynamics, where it is still possible to sense the direct bond between people and the land they live in.
Tourism in every season
Conco lends itself to tourism spread throughout the year, thanks to the variety of landscapes and to its altitude, which guarantees a cooler climate than the Vicenza plain. In summer it is a destination for those seeking relief from the heat, with walks in the woods and stops at still-active malghe. Autumn brings the warm colours of the beech forests and a more intimate atmosphere, ideal for those who love walking without crowds. Winter brings snow, turning meadows and woods into a silent landscape suited to simple snow walks on the more accessible stretches. Spring, finally, is the time when the pastures come back to life and nature awakens after the cold months. This seasonal alternation makes Conco a flexible destination, capable of offering different experiences depending on the time of year chosen for the visit.
Experiences not to miss
- Hiking the trails of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, through woods and high-altitude pastures
- Visiting still-active malghe to discover the mountain dairy tradition
- Enjoying views over the Vicenza plain from the highest points of Conco's territory
- Strolling through the rural hamlets to discover traditional stone-and-wood architecture
- Autumn walks amid the colours of the beech forests, or winter walks in the snow on the more accessible stretches
Routes · Trovido Route
