Trentino.
It is a mainly mountainous province, rich in rivers,
torrents and numerous lakes, clusters and chains of
mountains of singular beauty, divided in two by the
valley of the river Adige. To the west one finds the
glaciers of the group Adamello-Presanella-Care Alto
and the group of Brenta. To the east the groups of
Lagorai, Latemar, the Dolomites of Fassa, and the
Pale di S. Martino. Many alpine valleys break away
from the valley of Adige: the Valsugana, the Vallarsa,
the Val di Non, the Val di Sole, the Val di Cembra,
Fiemme and Fassa; inside instead the valley Giudicarie
and Rendena. The principle lakes are those of Garda,
Caldonazzo, Tovel and Ledro; thermal waters gush forth
from springs rich in therapeutic properties. Extensive
coniferous forests cover the dolomitic slopes and
wide table-lands like those of Folgaria, Lavarone
and Pine. Three natural parks, Adamello-Brenta, Paneveggio-Pale
of S. Martino and Stelvio conserve the typical species
of animals and vegetation of the alpine environment
including even the bear.
Cities.
The independent province of Trento is endowed with
a special statute which gives it particular legislative
authority. Trento is the administrative headquarters
of the province and of the region Trentino-AltoAdige.
Rovereto is the second centre of the province, a city
of culture and industrial site.
Art.
Land on the frontier between the German world and
the northern Italian civilization, Trento presents
a different and mutable figurative panorama in which
the contributions of diverse cultures have joined
and produced an art with authentic original characteristics.
The oldest artistic testimonies come from the late
medieval period and are conserved in the churches
of S. Pietro in Bosco in Ala, of Tenno and of S. Romedio;
together with many finds from the Roman and Paleochristian
ages. The main monuments from the Roman age are the
Cathedral of S. Virgilio in Trento and the Basilica
of S. Lorenzo. The Renaissance style marks many buildings
and churches in Trento, such as the Castle of Buonconsiglio,
the Palace of Albere, the church of S. Maria Maggiore.
Typical Gothic architectures are those of the church
of Civezzano, S. Apollinare, S. Zeno, Finera di Primiero
and Vigo di Fassa. A small jewel of European Gothic
painting is represented by the “Ciclo del Mesin”
in the Torre Aquila of Trento. An intense pictorial
activity took place in the first half of the sixteenth
century, together with a flourishing activity in the
minor arts. Several testimonies of the paintings are
conserved in churches and buildings.
To
be visited.
Earthen pyramids at Segonzano in the Val di Cembra;
Val di Genova, a picturesque alpine valley; the Alto
Gard Trentino, the Dolomites, the great arena of alpinism,
traversed by a stitched network of excursionist lanes
and ways; numerous antique castles which dominate
the principle valleys: Castel, Beseno, Sabbionata,
Drena, Stenico, Caldes, Thun, Pergine and Ivano. At
Trento: The castle of Buonconsiglio and the palace
of Albere, residence of provincial art museums; the
churches which hosted the famous “Council of
Trent”, the romantic Cathedral and the church
of S. Marina Maggiore. Naturalistic and archaeologic
collections are lodged in the natural science museum
of Trento. The diocesan museum of Trento conserves
precious testimonies of the sacred art, wooden artifacts
and flemish tapestries. At S. Michele in Adige there
is the museum on the practices and customs of the
Trento people. At Rovereto the castel holds one of
the greatest museums on the Great War.
Where dining out means learning more about local places,
traditions and culture. Those in search of typical Trentino
cuisine, using simple but genuine ingredients, should go
to one of the eating places (restaurants, bistros, country
inns, refuges etc.) exhibiting the "Osteria Tipica
Trentina" logo. Here they can be sure of finding strictly
local cuisine, from the starters to the desserts and wines.