The ancient hermitage of San Pietro, a meditative garden

A delightful small hermitage with a beautiful garden that invites meditation is nestled on the hills of the Vicenza area, between Colceresa and San Giorgio di Perlena.
I love walking, and when I can I dedicate Sunday mornings to long walks, preferably in hilly areas. After having explored the hills of San Benedetto several times, this time I decided to explore the area of ​​Colceresa, once Mason Vicentino.
The idea was to follow a path in the woods as much as possible, but the directions proved misleading and led to a wall of brambles. So I climbed among the vines until I found a road, which I followed.
It was very quiet: practically no cars, just a little wind and the birds singing, which is how I like it.
Via Fratte climbs up to San Giorgio, but as I was walking I saw a small church on the side of the hill, and I became curious. the map on the smartphone indicated it as the hermitage of San Pietro, so I decided to change itinerary and turned into via San Pietro to reach it.
Along the way I encountered bluebells, roses, vineyards and olive groves, and two "old" wells, still with wooden mechanisms. Truly fascinating. And then the classic houses with black basalt stone walls, typical of the area, very beautiful and characteristic.
At the second well the road becomes steep and narrow, and in a few minutes you reach the hermitage, very beautiful and intimate, with an absolutely extraordinary bell tower with small bells one above the other, in a double row.
The small but well-kept garden is equally fascinating, with native plants but also some exotic ones (like the agaphantus which I love!).
I discovered that the church was given on loan for use to a Franciscan friar, Father Ireneo, who with the help of the owners, the municipality and volunteers restored it and brought it back to life.
Next door is the Sankalpa association, run by volunteers, which supports the place financially.
It was a nice surprise, I didn't expect it. I will definitely return, perhaps arriving a little earlier, to be able to spend some time in the garden, letting worries and commitments slow down, and leaving more space for the present and awareness.
The road is a little steep at the beginning, but if you are not in a hurry it is perfectly easy. A path then descends from the hermitage to via Costa d'olio and from there back to Colceresa.