Rovereto is an Italian town in the autonomous province of Trento Close to Lake Garda, the ancient centre of silk production offers a refined cultural offer including museums and festivals, palaces and monuments. But it is also a paradise for cyclists and an ideal base camp for skiing on the Brentonico plateau.
Rovereto has been an important industrial, tourist and cultural center of Trentino since the eighteenth century, when it was awarded the title of “Athens of Trentino”. It is often called the City of the oak or City of Peace, referring to the presence of the Bell of the Fallen, a work which is rung 100 times every evening in memory of those who have fallen in all wars.
Rovereto is a crossroads of cultures, the city recounts different eras, from the Jurassic period of the dinosaurs, to the Venetian domination of the fifteenth century, from the palaces of the eighteenth century, to the events of the Great War and the great international museums, such as the Mart, as well as Maria Dolens, the bell made with the cast bronze of the nations that participated in the First World War.
Visit the Castello di Rovereto, with its view over the entire valley: also called Castel Veneto, it is of Medieval origin and is one of the best examples of late-Medieval Alpine fortification. Inside it, you will find the war museum – one of the most important museums on the first world war.
Famous attractions include Palazzo Fedrigotti Alberti, Palazzo dell’Annona (home of the Civic Library), Museo Depero and Teatro Zandonai. It is also worth especially mentioning the MART, the museum of modern and contemporary art of Trento and Rovereto, open since 2002 and one of the most important in Europe: inside you will find a permanent collection of 15,000 works, in addition to travelling exhibitions of sculpture and paintings.
In winter, there is Christmas Markets, known as Natale dei Popoli: from Piazza Battisti, walk along Via Roma among the huts and spicy aromas, stopping to discover the foreign countries that are selling their own typical products, in addition to more traditional stands.
Among the other experiences worth trying, we suggest an excellent breakfast at Caffè Bontadi, and tasting at least one glass of Marzemino wine, typical of this area, in one of the many local restaurants.
History
Rovereto was an ancient fortress town standing at the frontier between the bishopric of Trento – an independent state until 1797 – and the republic of Venice, and later between Austrian Tyrol and Italy. During the Austrian time it was known by its German toponyms Rofreit and Rovereith.
In the 16th and 17th centuries the town had a development of cultural and education institutions, with a call for building from the architects of Lombardia for a unity of style.Roads are built in a rational cut: brevity, then clarity and scientific development of the thought. In the 16th century, the expansion of the town permits to continue the construction of small but high buildings and to use the river to structure small canals for water. Therefore the color industry starts with silk and textile its adventure from the more advanced and wide spread Venetian corners.
Already at the beginning of the 16th century the “first spinning wheel with the arms of men” was installed in the city on the initiative of Girolamo Savioli. Progress was continuous. The most flourishing period in the history of Rovereto was the eighteenth century, when the silk industry developed to the maximum. In 1766 the silk factories in Rovereto employed more than 1 000 workers, while over 4 000 jobbers worked under the orders of the spinners and foremen in the 36 spinning machines, 26 winding machines, 1 236 spinning machines and in the 5 dyeing plants that supplied the final product to the 23 silk shops.
The population of Rovereto, which reached a significant level of well-being at the end of the eighteenth century, as evidenced by the architectural achievements that still characterize it, were employed not only in the silk production chain, but also in crafts and trade. The city was also famous for the importance of its cultural life and the general level of education, like the Athens of Trentino. Among the valuable urban realizations of that period are the Corso Nuovo along the ancient imperial road, designed by the architect Ambrogio Rosminiin 1771. At that time the roads leading to the suburbs were also expanded and along those paths the new noble palaces that would decorate Rovereto were built.
The 19th century is characterized by the influence of the rediscovery of the romance history. That new positive period of the economy that had opened at the dawn of the 20th century for Rovereto was dramatically interrupted by the outbreak of the Great War. The First World War inflicted wounds on the social and economic fabric of the city, devastation that forced the exile of the population from the city homeland, transformed into the front line of the war.
From 1960s, a radical process of rationalization and expansion of the primary and secondary sectors with the birth of the Binelonghe industrial area. In Rovereto, industrial activity is developed in various sectors, from mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, optical, wood and food industries. There are small to medium-sized artisanal and commercial infrastructures and agriculture mainly affects the hamlets. Important is the production of furniture and wooden objects, embellished with artistic decorations, of pianos, lutes, guitars, lampshades and lace.
Main Attractions
Rovereto, a small Trentino town that offer science museums for the little ones, 20th century art and history, tasty cuisine and via ferratas, for mountain and climbing lovers. Rovereto is perfect for those who wish to combine a cultural holiday with a bit of sport and relaxation on the Brentonico Plateau.
Stroll through art, history and science and discover the Venetian atmosphere of the historic center that mingles with the echoes of the First World War. Walking through the streets of the city, admire the important and prestigious palaces of the eighteenth century, from the Accademia degli Agiati, to the Zandonai Theater, to the Civic Library in the Annona building. Many illustrious guests have visited Rovereto. The best known is perhaps Mozart, who held his first concert in Italy in the Church of San Marco.
In the city, you can visit splendid museums of art, history and science such as the Mart and the Depero Futurist Art House, the Italian War History Museum and the Science and Archeology Museum. City-stage, Rovereto offers a rich program of artistic events, from dance, theater, music, cinema and archeology festivals, to prose seasons and outdoor performances. These are the main events to experience a center that has always been a crossroads of peoples and cultures: Settenovecento, Oriente Occidente, the Mozart Week and the International Review of Archaeological Cinema.
Rovereto is also a City of Peace, as evidenced by the great Bell of the Fallen. Merged with the bronze of the guns of the nations that participated in the First World War, its 100 strokes spread a universal message of peace every evening. Nearby, the shrine of Castel Dante preserves the remains of over 20,000 soldiers.
Historical sites
The historic centers of cities and towns tell of lived lives, of invasions, of battles, of philosophers and artists, of a civilization that from peasant has turned into industrial, without forgetting the roots of a culture that is inextricably linked to the territory.Two thousand years of history surround you in Vallagarina. From the Roman villa of Isera to the medieval churches located along the Via Claudia Augusta, from the vestiges of the Serenissima, which here established its extreme outpost towards the Alps, to the manors on the hills, to the mountains, theater of the Great War.
Malfatti-Azzolini Palace
In the heart of the baroque village of Ala, the building borders one side of the central Piazza San Giovanni. Malfatti and Azzolini, are the names of the families who succeeded each other in the ownership of this prestigious neoclassical style building. The Malfatti, originally from Verona, historically represent the oldest noble family of Ala. The building has a grandiose and imposing facade, this building has a tympanum in the upper part of the facade that exceeds in height the other buildings in the square. The building has the shape of a large “L”: the wide base overlooks the square, while towards the south the plant tapers to open onto a large garden with a fountain. From the imposing entrance hall you pass to the courtyard where the ancient stables overlook, to then reach the greenhouse and the large garden.
Alberti Poja Palace
Palazzo Alberti Poja together with Palazzo dell’Annona (seat of the Civic Library) constitutes the entrance facade to the MART square, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto and the Melotti Auditorium. The prestigious palace of Count Francesco Alberti Poja and Baroness Eleonora Piomarta was built starting in 1778, on the then Corso Nuovo Grande (now Angelo Bettini), a wide eighteenth-century road that connected the ancient medieval village to Trento. The architect Ambrogio Rosmini followed the construction work and already in 1779 the interior embellishment began with stucco and painted decorations. Inside, the chapel dating back to 1782 is preserved. The noble floor which preserves several frescoes painted by Marco Marcola (Verona, 1740-1793) with the help of his brother Francesco for the illusionistic squares.On the ceiling of the central hall stands the story of the ‘Judgment of Paris’.
Todeschi-Micheli Palace
In Mercerie street, the palace of the Todeschi barons dates back to the eighteenth century. It is a construction that brings together three pre-existing buildings and has interiors of considerable elegance with period furnishings and stuccoes. Above the door, observe the stone coat of arms of the noble family. As the verses engraved on the stone recall, it is in this place that on 25 December 1769 Mozart held his first highly applauded Italian concert in the presence of nobles and notables from Rovereto. The building has hosted numerous editions of the WA Mozart International Festival and was the seat of the Mozart Italia Association which organizes the Mozart Week every autumn.
Palazzi de ‘Pizzini von Hochenbrunn
In the historic center of Ala, the Palazzo de ‘Pizzini is a complex of three buildings (the two palaces plus a house) built between the end of the 1600s and the end of the 1700s, once connected by an aerial passage similar to the Ponte dei Sighs of Venice. The style is baroque and on the portal of Via S. Caterina it is possible to admire the noble coat of arms (the seven-pointed stars), while the facade on piazzetta Burri is more sober and elegant, here the fresco of the Veronese school stands out with portraits of the Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine.
The lower Palazzo de ‘Pizzini was used as a residence, while the upper Palazzo de’ Pizzini was used as a guesthouse. The oldest of the structures, Palazzo de ‘Pizzini – di Lenna, dates back to the second half of the 17th century and is now the seat of the Ancient Piano Museum and the International Academy of musical interpretation on period instruments. The palace preserves the fascinating setting that has aroused the admiration of artists, nobles, princes and sovereigns since the mid-seventeenth century. Among the well-known personalities who stopped there we remember Charles III of Spain (1708), Charles VI (1714) and Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed overnight in the palace during the first French invasion of Trentino (1796).
The second Palazzo de ‘Pizzini, once joined to the first by a passage, is one of the most authoritative examples of Baroque architecture in Vallagarina. Francis I and Maria Theresa of Austria stayed there, numerous other emperors and princes, intellectuals and artists such as Wolfang Amadeus Mozart, who was a guest at Palazzo de ‘Pizzini with his father three times in three consecutive years, he played for the masters of house in the boardroom on the main floor. On the external façade of Via S. Caterina a frame shows the composer’s dedication. The excellent acoustics of the salonit is given by the wooden floor, like the balustrade above, and by the walls that reach slightly concave towards the ceiling. The fresco decorating the ceiling is valuable, attributed by some scholars to Antonio Gresta.
House of the Turks
The Casa dei Turchi is located in the Santa Maria district, in a suggestive corner of the historic center. Immersed in the sound of waterfalls, it overlooks the Forbato bridge, the oldest in the city. Welcoming and secret, it owes its name to the ancient wooden verandas that recall elements of Arab architecture: the Mashrabija, sensual masks that allow you to see without being seen and to its history between thirst and trade, since 1500 a bridge between East and West.
Palazzo Pretorio
The palace dates back to 1417. It was built by order of the Republic of Venice by the Venetian podestà Andrea Valier, who made it his personal home and the seat of the offices of the Municipality of Rovereto. Originally a modest building max 2000 characters, it was enlarged by Valier’s successors and restored at the beginning of the twentieth century by Auguste Sezanne.
The façade that looks towards Piazza del Podestà is the emblem of two historical periods relevant to the city: the Venetian fifteenth century on the right side and the eighteenth-century style on the left side. The three-arched portico with frescoes above the ancient canal, the decoration of the wooden ceiling in the Sala del Consiglio and the two frescoes in the Sala del Sindaco bear witness to the years of Venetian domination. The entrance portal with a small balcony supported by two marble pillars dates back to the eighteenth century. To the left of the entrance, observe the walled stone slab with the Venetian pole and the Viennese arm and the corresponding values in use in Rovereto in 1770. The rear part of the building overlooking the Leno stream is also worth a look. The eighteenth-century decorations are a dip in the history of Rovereto, from the Republic of Venice to the Habsburgs.
Castles
The journey through the castles of Vallagarina is a fascinating itinerary between ramparts and walls, a unique opportunity to learn more about the history of this valley, an ancient border line and always a land of passage between Italy and Central Europe. Immersed in the vineyards and located in strategic positions on both sides of the Adige river, the castles of Vallagarina offer you unique views.
Beseno Castle
Beseno Castle is an awe-inspiring fortress dominating an entire hilltop: the ideal location to bring the atmosphere of the 15th century back to life. It has dominated the hilltop since the 12th century and, in 1487, was at the centre of the historic Battle of Calliano, a turning point in the war between Venetian troops and the fighters of Trentino and Tyrol. Due to its strategic position on the road that connects Italy and Central Europe crossing the Alps, it was the scene of important battles. Among these, the famous battle of Calliano in 1487, fought between the Tyrolean and Venetian troops, who suffered a resounding defeat in their advance towards Trento. In 1973 the Counts Trapp, owners since 1470, donated the castle to the Autonomous Province of Trento, which oversaw its restoration.
In the halls of the Palazzo di Marcabruno, the permanent exhibition which illustrates, through reconstructions, videos and models, the battle of Calliano. Look at the copy of the tombstone of the famous leader Roberto da Sanseverino, who lost his life in this battle. Also note the coats of arms painted in memory of the Tyrolean nobles who took part in the fight, the first to see the fearsome Lanzichenecchi take the field. Then don and wield weapons from the 15th to 17th centuries and learn about the fighting techniques of the time. Recreated in a number of immersive rooms. Stroll the defensive walls, looking out at the broad valley of the Adige below you. Visit the rooms once used as ovens for baking bread. Descend into its kitchens and wine cellars, and, above all, get your hands on helmets, shields and suits of armour to feel like a 15th century warrior for a day. Beseno Castle is the ideal place to understand what life was like in a fortress during the Renaissance era.
Stroll across the expansive tournament court along the moonlit ramparts. Access the walkway from the dark door, and enjoy the wonderful view over the Adige valley to the west, and to the east the glimpses of the Cimbri plateaus, gateway to the Vicenza area. Cross the Piazza Grande overlooked by the Palazzo Comitale, the elegant residence of the Trapp family.
Rovereto Castle
Rovereto Castle is one of the best examples of late medieval alpine fortification. Discover the towers with weapons, tunnels and gunboats carved into the walls. Rovereto Castle was built in the 14th century by the Castelbarco family near the Leno stream. The Venetians in the fifteenth century took possession of it and transformed it into a military fortress with a defensive function, equipped with four mighty bastions. In 1509, following the Venetian defeat, it passed into the hands of the Habsburgs, who controlled it until the end of the Great War.
The castle, also called Castel Veneto, is recognized as one of the most complete and interesting Venetian-type Alpine fortifications and you can find it in the heart of the historic center of Rovereto. In the Marino and Malipiero towers, discover the vast collection of weapons of the modern age: armor, white and firearms, dueling and hunting weapons used between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.
Since 1921 the castle has housed the Italian War History Museum: the permanent and temporary exhibitions will help you to reconstruct the events of the First World War, while the educational activities aimed at school groups aim to bring young people closer to history. In the past, the Castle of Rovereto also housed Maria Dolens, the famous Bell of the Fallen, now located on the Colle di Miravalle. In its rooms, the original plaster model is still visible today.
Avio Castle
The Castello di Avio is one of the best known, oldest and most evocative fortified monuments in Trentino. From its position, on the slopes of Monte Vignola, the castle dominates the valley almost as far as Verona. Do not miss the glimpse of the imposing keep, the mighty walls and the five towers. Probably military garrison already in Lombard times, became the property of the Castelbarco family before moving on to the Venetians in 1441. Since 1977 the castle is a Well of the FAI, who has made a careful restoration work.
Upon entering, you will pass through a gate-tower crowned with dovetail battlements. On the right he observes the bulk of the tower that stands out among the eastern walls: it is the Picadora, so called because, according to tradition, the condemned were hanged on the terrace. Inside, you will be enchanted by the splendid cycles of frescoes of the Veronese school: “The parade of the fighters”, on the walls of the Casa delle Guardie, and “The room of love”, elegant decorations of courtesy in the keep.
Castel Pietra
Castel Pietra rises on the slopes of the hill of Castel Beseno in the municipality of Calliano, north of the city of Rovereto. Its name recalls the boulders fallen from the overhanging Cengio Rosso, on which Castel Pietra was built and expanded over the centuries. The castle has its origins in the Middle Ages. Different styles converge in the structure, but it is evident at first glance that the main purpose is the defense and control of the territory. The historical importance of Castel Pietra derives above all from its strategic position: its massive masonry once stretched as far as the Adige river and thus allowed to control the imperial road. For many years, until the defeat of Venice in the early 16th century, the castle stood on the border between the Tyrol and the Republic of Venice.
This position made the castle the scene of important clashes, such as the battle of Calliano on 10 August 1487. In the clash, the Venetian troops commanded by the condottiere Sanseverino were heavily defeated. Between the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, Castel Pietra was the site of further important conflicts between Napoleon’s French and the Austrians. In 1796 Napoleon Bonaparte had some cannons transported in the middle of the Cengio Rosso and the Austrian troops were forced to surrender, unable to defend themselves from a bombardment from above. During the First and Second World War Castel Pietra was severely damaged.
Today the castle belongs to the same family since 1738. As soon as the first phase of a major renovation, the castle is now open to guided tours and events private and not varied: cocktails, conferences, seminars, photo shoots, events, dinners and weddings.
Castel Noarna
Probably born as a fortification in Roman times, Castel Noarna has dominated Vallagarina since the 11th century. The history of the castle is fascinating: in 1486 the powerful Lodron family took it from the Castelbarco family and transformed it from a fortification for mainly defensive use into a noble residence. Under the dominion of Nicolò Lodron, Castel Noarna assumed its current appearance. It was he who commissioned the new residential sectors of the castle, the frescoes of the main staircase and those of the winter garden. The structure with the keep, the fortifications and the Guelph battlements dates back to the 13th century. The watchtower is the first access point to the castle: it served to control the wooden drawbridge. Inside you will find the Keep with the main tower, two guard rooms and the prisons where several women of the valley were imprisoned during the infamous Nogaredo witch trial (1646-1647).
From the courtyard of the keep, access the Chapel and admire the “Coronation of the Virgin with Saints Nicholas and Francis”. The altarpiece, dating from 1580, represents St. Nicholas in bishop’s robes with miter and grazing. Note also the precious wooden loggia decorated with floral motifs. Also from the courtyard of the keep you can access the gallery with the vaulted ceiling frescoed with the coats of arms of the Lodron, Castellalto and Arco families. The atrium of honor is a rare example of a partial pictorial copy of Michelangelo’s vault, dating back to the second half of 1500. Among the subjects represented, you can admire a view of Vallagarina from south to north: Castel Noarna, Castel Pietra and Castel Beseno with two horsemen in the foreground.
The castle, surrounded by vineyards, is just 2.5 kilometers from the Rovereto Nord motorway exit and 6 kilometers from the center of Rovereto. Its cellar produces around 35,000 bottles every year.
Castel Corno
A few minutes from Rovereto, in a strategic position, Castel Corno offers you a unique view, ranging from the river Adige to the Little Dolomites. Founded around the year 1000, it has a structure that adapts perfectly to the morphology of the territory: placed on a spur of rock, it is divided into an upper and lower castle. At the center of facts of arms and legends, the castle was the object of contention and conquest by various noble dynasties and military enterprises until the inexorable decline after the Napoleonic occupation.
Castellano Castle
The Castle of Castellano is a fortified residence in a panoramic position, with a long wall that descends the slope to the Torre della Guardia. Conquered by the Castelbarco family in the mid-13th century, it then passed to the Lodron counts in 1456, who transformed it into a magnificent residence. The manor is now owned by the Miorandi di Castellano family. Its most evident feature is the long wall that descends the slope to the Watchtower. In summer, the shadow of the castle stands out on the stage of one of the most loved events in the valley, Castelfolk, a green event with good music, excellent wines and typical Trentino cuisine.
Museums
Rovereto, with its international museums, takes you on a journey through art, history and science. Stroll from the castle towers to the striking dome of the Mart. Go through the collections of one of the oldest museums in Italy, then experience the thrill of meeting a genius of Futurism. Hear the hundred tolls of peace of Maria Dolens, the largest bell in the world that rings out in the open. In Vallagarina, then, a world of music, peasant traditions, collecting and local history awaits you, ready to reveal all the charm of this secret corner of Trentino, beyond the most popular routes.
The Italian War History Museum
The majestic rooms of the castle in Rovereto are home to uniforms, armour, weapons and documents that tell the story of more than five centuries of battles and conflicts, from the Renaissance to the First World War. This is one of the top war museums in Italy and it attracts numerous history enthusiasts, thanks especially to the section about the First World War. The collection features uniforms, weapons and armour, not to mention an authentic, recently restored Nieuport-Macchi Ni.10 biplane. Do not miss the Risorgimento section, which contains not only weapons and uniforms but also furniture and china from the era of Italian unification. In the towers, you can see a collection of weapons from the early modern period (from the 16th to the 18th century), including armour, cold weapons, firearms, duelling weapons and hunting weapons.
The Bell of the Fallen
The bell commemorates the soldiers who fought the Great War in Trentino. One hundred slow tolls every evening resound through the mountains from the Miravalle hill overlooking Rovereto and Vallagarina. Made in 1924 from the melted bronze of the cannons of the fighting nations, the bell has since spread its universal message of brotherhood. The history of the bell recalls that of Trentino itself, a long disputed border land that has left behind the wreckage of the past to become a dynamic workshop of coexistence and dialogue, without ever forgetting the duty to remember. About 3.36 metre high and 3.21 metres in diameter, it is the largest bell in the world to peal out, and the fourth one in weight (over 22.6 tons). All around are stands to host the occasional commemorations.
MART, the Trento and Rovereto Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
One of the most visited museums in Trentino and a top destination for modern and contemporary art. This spectacular structure, designed by starchitect Mario Botta, is home to a permanent collection of around 20,000 works of art by such famous names as Hayez, Boccioni and De Chirico. Particular attention is paid to the major artistic movements of the last century, with a focus on Futurism.
The contemporary collection is vast, with works of art by Pistoletto, Burri, Fontana, Merz, and such stars of international art as Morris, Fulton and Abramovic. The schedule of temporary exhibits, events and workshops is rich and well-designed, including options for children.
Depero House of Futurist Art
Rovereto hosts a museum-workshop quite unique in Italy, which brings to life a project conceived by the artist himself. An excellent overview of the whole Italian futurism, hundreds of paintings, brightly coloured tapestries and puppets, drawings, design objects, collages, posters, flyers, and even furniture: all created by the famous futurist artist. This museum will fascinate adults as well as appeal to children thanks to the creative and colourful exuberance of the artist, whose many works of art also include toys and puppets.
This is Italy’s only futurist museum, born from the inspiration of Fortunato Depero, who spent much of his life in Rovereto and decided to donate his collection to the city. Today, it is home to paintings, tapestries, mosaics, drawings, design objects, collages, posters, flyers and furniture created by the famous futurist artist, a pioneer of contemporary design, who personally saw to every detail.
Science and Archaeology Museum, Rovereto
A museum that’s full of life, thanks to the packed calendar of activities and temporary exhibits that enrich the museum’s impressive collection. Archaeology, zoology, botany, astronomy, earth science and robotics: these are the subjects that come to life in the Science and Archaeology Museum, one of the two sites of the Civic Museum Foundation of Rovereto, through the stunning collections in its permanent exhibition halls as well as important temporary exhibits that delve deeper into specific issues. The museum offers a rich calendar of activities, such as the robotics workshop where visitors can build their own robots, or the excursions in the Footsteps of Dinosaurs (south of Rovereto). Also worth trying are the Lessons at the Planetarium and the Nature activities in the Experiment Area, in the Bosco della Città.
Cuisine
The Trentino chefs open the doors of their kitchens to offer you the special recipes of their menus, between tradition and modernity, prepared with genuine local products. The excellent Trentino cuisine can be found both in the large restaurants and in the small inns and trattorias in the area. Both in the mountain huts and in the elegant wine cellars. A simple, elegant and respectful cuisine, which goes beyond tradition to focus with a curious eye on the new, with dishes revisited in a contemporary key, combining flavors and playing on contrasts.
Trentino is one of the mountain wine-growing areas which, thanks to a production group deeply linked to the territory, offers wines of identity. Here, bathed by the Adige River, ventilated and protected by important mountain ranges such as the Little Dolomites, is Vallagarina. A valley that has extremely favorable conditions for viticulture.
A rich and well-preserved urban system, rich in history and culture, alternates with the vine. Among plains, hills, terraces and the steep slopes of the side valleys, Vallagarina produces great wines, from the classic method to the whites up to the full-bodied red wines, among which the indigenous Marzemino, Casetta and Enantio stand out.
Marzadro
A tour of the establishment, discover the tastes and aromas of its distillery. During which you will see our traditional and efficient copper alembics and you will learn about the various phases that produce one of Trentino’s most ancient and renowned products. Obviously, you will also be given the chance to taste our Grappas and Distillates, such as Le Diciotto Lune, Marzadro 43°, Affina, Le Giare, Anima Nera, Pellerossa, etc., born of the skill of man and of the generosity of the land in this corner of Trentino.
Surrounding
Just north of Verona, Rovereto has always been a crossroads of cultures, a link between plains and mountains, Italian and German culture. All around, Vallagarina welcomes you with an almost unchanged landscape: the precious vineyards of the valley floor, crossed by the Adige, dominated by castles and dotted with villages of ancient origins, the pre-alpine pastures of Brentonico in the Monte Baldo Park, the terraced fields of Val di Gresta, the rocky peaks of the Small Dolomites in Vallarsa.
In the surrounding area, Vallagarina is a valley to be explored with all the senses through the encounter with the producers of wine, grappa, cheese and meats from the malga, organic vegetables from the Val di Gresta, honey, saffron, truffles, officinal herbs. The valley can be crossed with stops in the medieval castles immersed in the vineyards of the valley floor, in the cellars where you can taste typical wines or in the pretty villages.
Going upwards, the pre-alpine pastures of Brentonico in the Monte Baldo Park, the terraced fields where the organic vegetables of the Val di Gresta are grown, the rocky peaks of the Small Dolomites of Vallarsa, the huts and the typical products of the Leno Valleys.
In the summer the whole Vallagarina becomes a stage for events, the summer is also ideal for discovering the mountains of the area with guided trekking or for following spectacular trails on a mountain bike. Brown and marble trout are fished on the Leno and along the Adige. In winter skiing enthusiasts can reach the skiing stations of Brentonico Polsa – San Valentino, and Folgaria.
Looking at the sun and the stars at 1620 meters above sea level, breathing cleaner air and far from the lights of the city: you can try this experience at the Astronomical Observatory on Monte Zugna, not far from the center of Rovereto.