Lastebasse
Lastebasse is one of the most isolated and highest municipalities in the province of Vicenza, set above 590 metres at the far nort...
Updated 12 July 2026
The story
The story of Lastebasse
An almost-enclave municipality
On the map, Lastebasse seems almost detached from the rest of the province of Vicenza: it borders Lavarone to the north-west and Folgaria to the west and south-west, both municipalities in Trentino, while to the south and south-east it meets Arsiero, Tonezza del Cimone and Pedemonte, already in Vicenza territory. This position, at the far end of the upper Astico valley, makes it a genuine border municipality, historically contested between the two areas. Getting there means climbing steep mountain roads, leaving the plain and traffic behind: a detail that, more than any description, conveys how far Lastebasse has stayed off the beaten tourist track, which is exactly what makes it authentic.
The Rovereto ruling and the origin of the name
Lastebasse's history is marked by centuries of border disputes with the neighbouring Trentino communities, known as the Folgaresi. The dispute was settled in September 1605 with the historic Rovereto ruling, which redrew the boundaries: Laste Alte was confirmed as part of Vicenza's territory, while Laste Basse and the Sette Montagne area were assigned to Folgaria, in Trentino. As part of the agreement, the old settlement was destroyed and the village rebuilt lower down, which is where its present name comes from. It's a little-known but fascinating story, showing how for centuries borders in these alpine valleys were the subject of negotiation rather than lines drawn once and for all.
The landscape of the upper Astico valley
Lastebasse's territory is dominated by conifer and beech woods, high-altitude pastures and rocky walls closing off the valley towards Trentino. The altitude, over 590 metres in the valley floor and considerably higher on the surrounding ridges, gives the area a distinctly mountain climate, with long cold winters and cool summers that draw those seeking relief from the plain's heat. There are no major ski facilities or large tourist infrastructures: the territory's vocation remains forestry and pastoral, with small mountain huts and trails heading towards the Folgaria and Lavarone plateau, offering views that stretch from the Piccole Dolomiti to the peaks of Trentino.
A small village, a community that endures
With only a few hundred residents, Lastebasse is among the least populous municipalities in the province of Vicenza, and like many mountain villages it experienced significant depopulation through the twentieth century, as people emigrated to the plain and abroad. Those who live here today keep a strong bond with the land, through small farming activities, livestock and a niche tourism tied to mountains and silence. It wouldn't be honest to present it as a destination rich in services: life here is essential, marked by the seasons, and it is precisely this authenticity — increasingly rare — that makes up its main appeal for those seeking a genuine connection with the Vicenza mountains.
Among the trails and the memory of the Great War
The proximity to the Folgaria and Lavarone plateau, one of the most intense fronts of the First World War on the Austro-Italian border, makes this area particularly rich in historical memory: forts, trenches and pathways still dot the ridges just across the border, reachable on half-day hikes from Lastebasse. The village itself, given its position, was marked by those difficult years, like much of the upper Astico valley's community. Today the trails linking Lastebasse to Trentino let visitors retrace this history on foot, through quiet woods and views that have changed little since then.
Experiences not to miss
- A hike along the historic border between Vicenza and Trentino
- A walk towards the Folgaria and Lavarone plateau
- A visit to the remains of Great War fortifications
- A walk through the quiet woods of the upper Astico valley
- Discovering the village and its border history
Routes · Trovido Route
