Combai
Combai: an enchanted place at the foothills of the Belluno Prealps
Physical Geography
Combai is a picturesque hamlet located in the province of Treviso, at the foothills of the Belluno Prealps, and belongs to the municipality of Miane. The village rests on a completely hilly zone, immersed in lush and thriving nature. The area is characterized by Chestnut woods and vineyards, famous for their production of Prosecco and Verdiso. The landscape between Miane and Guia is also marked by beautiful natural coves of the spinonce.
History
The toponym Combai, referred to in ancient documents as Combajo, could derive from the Latin term culmen vallis, due to its elevated position.
Monuments and places of interest
Combai is a richly historical place, full of places of interest. Among its main attractions are:
Church of Santo Stefano
The Church of Santo Stefano is one of Combai's main religious sites. According to history, the church has existed since 1475, initially as a small chapel dependent on the parish of Miane, and underwent a number of refurbishments over the centuries until its final consecration in 1868. Today the church is the parish seat and houses numerous works of art.
Church of Ronch
The Church of Ronch is a small shrine dedicated to the Our Lady of Sorrows, located near the cemetery and inaugurated in 1856. In neo-classical style, the church is the hub of the religious celebration held every third Sunday of September, during which a statue of the Virgin is carried in procession.
Church of San Michele
The Church of San Michele is another place of worship located in the locality of Serra. This small church was first mentioned in the fourteenth century, and the present building dates back to the eighteenth century. In the past, the church was the site of traditional rogations, and its foundation is linked to the nearby Abbey of Follina. It is said that some expelled and rebellious monks founded the place of worship as a sort of forced exile and introduced the cultivation of the vine in this area.
Strada de la Fan
The Strada de la Fan, built during the Great War, is an engineering work that crosses the slopes of the Prealps. This road was built by Austro-Hungarian troops, who also enlisted the help of local labor, including boys, women, and elderly people. Due to the hardships of the construction period, the road was nicknamed "of hunger". Even today, some stretches of the road preserve the original cobblestones.
Borgo Colmellere
Borgo Colmellere is an ancient agglomeration located southwest of the center of Combai, near the border between Combai and Valdobbiadene. The toponym is ancient and is already mentioned around 950 as Col de Melleris, from the name of a landowner named Mellius. The buildings of the hamlet are organized following the original medieval scheme, with a central courtyard in which the courtyard, the well, and the oven are located.
The Combai chestnut
Combai is also famous for its production of chestnuts, a fruit with a sweet and delicate flavor that is mainly cultivated in its woods. The Combai chestnut has been recognized at the European level as a Protected Geographical Indication and represents one of the local production's excellences.
Conclusion
Combai is an enchanted place, immersed in nature, of great historical and cultural value. An ideal destination for those who want to discover the charm of the Treviso countryside, taste local flavors, and admire the beauty of sacred places and intact territories.
