Valsugana and Lagorai: wellness holidays in the nature

The waters of the hot springs and lakes, the green of meadows and pastures on the plateaus and in the valleys, the rocks of the Lagorai range, the clean air: this is what you will see and feel in the Valsugana, the reign of silence and uncontaminated wild nature. A paradise which has been spared the heavy flow of seasonal visitors, where you can relax and revitalize yourself thanks to the beneficial effects of thermal waters, spend a holiday full of sports and fun, and discover the history and culture of this area tasting the delicious local products.

Valsugana: where it is located

The Valsugana valley is located in the southern part of Trentino, between the Asiago Plateau and the Lagorai range, one of the wildest territories of the province, where you can still experience the real mountain environment and rediscover the ancient bond between man and nature. Heart of the Lagorai is Valtrigona, the only WWF Oasis of Trentino.ù

Valsugana: what to do

This area, rich in hot springs, is perfect if you want to spend a wellness holiday, forgetting the frantic pace imposed by modern life and revitalizing your body and soul. There are no less than three destinations you can choose from to enjoy the beneficial effects of thermal waters: Levico, Vetriolo and Roncegno. The territory is also rich in lakes, and on the two largest ones, Lake Caldonazzo and Lake Levico, you can practice many water sports: sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, water-skiing, swimming, sport fishing and, a peculiarity of this area, rowing long boats called dragon boats, a sport imported from China.

Valsugana and the Lagorai range feature a thick network of trails of every kind and level, many of which start from the plateaus and offer a wonderful panoramic view of the surroundings. One of the easiest and best known is the Trodo dei Fiori, from where you can admire the Lagorai range, the Pale di San Martino group and the Vette Feltrine group. If you are looking from something different from the usual trails, try the Artenatura route of Arte Sella, an open-air art museum in the Val di Sella valley, where the creativity of man merges with the one of nature.

Mountain bike lovers too can choose among many routes of all levels, like the lakes tour, trails on the plateaus and in the valleys, and the Valsugana cycle track, 70 km from Lake Caldonazzo to Bassano del Grappa. If you love horse riding you should try the East Trentino Horse Trail, a network of paths covering the whole Valsugana valley and the Lagorai. Here you can also practice Nordic Walking, paragliding, golf, mountaineering and free climbing, try the exciting aerial adventure courses for both kids and adults in the Acropark adventure park, or an unforgettable descent in the Oliero Caves, the biggest of Europe, and in the Cave of Castello Tesino, with signs on the walls allegedly made by the cave bear.

When these wonderful lands are covered with snow you have the perfect chance to freely practice winter sports, away from the chaos of the more crowded ski areas, in the two resorts of Funivie Lagorai and Panarotta 2002, where you can choose among ski mountaineering, Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and ice-climbing.

Valsugana: what to see

For a dive into history and culture, visit Castel Pergine, now a hotel, restaurant and venue for contemporary art exhibitions, cultural and musical events; Castel Ivano, which hosts exhibitions and cultural events; the Maso Filzerhof, repository of the traditions of the Mochèni people, the Casa De Gasperi Museum in Pieve Tesino and the Great War Museum in Borgo Valsugana.

For astronomy enthusiasts, the Astronomical Observatory on the Celado Plateau is well worth a visit.

From producer to consumer

In Valsugana the short supply chain has been a reality for a while, thus granting a cuisine that is both healthy and tasty: sausages, cheeses, the radicchio di Bieno, apples, wild berries, polenta prepared with Pignolino corn flour, medicinal herbs, honey, the very light Levico water, the Trento DOC spumante, the beer, the flavoured schnapps (grappa) and the Parampampoli, a drink made with coffee, schnapps (grappa), wine and caramel, served hot and flambé.

Very interesting are the guided tours to the local farms and consortiums of the producers who joined the Wine and Flavours Roads of Trentino, a gastronomic journey to follow from the beginning to the end the production process and to discover the traditions and culture of this land.