ALTA VAL DI NON
The territory
From Mezzocorona in the Val d’Adige, the Valle di Non extends along the Noce river to the Lake of Santa Giustina near Cles, and continues along the Rio Novella to San Felice, which is already in the Province of Bolzano and is, at unlike the rest of the valley, already inhabited by a German-speaking population. The valley is an ideal starting point for excursions to the Brenta Dolomites, the Mendola, the Ortles, but also to Caldaro and Merano in Alto Adige and is also known for its lakes. Among them the artificial lake of Santa Giustina, the Lake of San Felice, and Lake Tovel, famous for the natural phenomenon unique in the world that colored it red at a particular time of the year following the flowering of an alga . Closed to the north by the Maddalene mountain range, to the south-west of the Brenta Dolomites, to the east by the eastern subgroup of the Anauni mountains, to the south by the Paganella massif and to the Andalo saddle, the Val di Non is accessible from Val di Sole (Passo Tonale-Lombardia), from the Val d’Adige (Mezzocorona), from the valleys of the Mendola (for Caldaro, Alto Adige) and the Palade (towards Merano). From Trento to Cles it is served by a railway line, from Caldaro to Passo della Mendola instead of a funicular. Val di Non is ideal for those who want to spend holidays away from stress and for those looking for a natural landscape coined hills, woods and lakes located on a plateau. The suggestive villages of the valley, the castles and the sanctuaries characterize places that have remained intact from a natural point of view but also faithful to cultural traditions.
THE TERRITORY
Lake of Tovel
Lake Tovel is an alpine lake located in the Val di Tovel in the municipality of Ville d’Anaunia in the Val di Non (Province of Trento) at an altitude of 1178 m s.l.m. within the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park. The Val di Tovel winds from the town of Tuenno for 17 km between Mount Peller to the west and the Campa massif to the east, up to the imposing rocky circuit of the Brenta Dolomites which circumscribes the upper valley, where the lake is located .Tovel Lake has also been called Lake of the Bears because there are some brown bears in the valley, and red lake due to the redness of its waters, which occurred until 1964 due to the action of an alga (Tovellia sanguinea).
ADVENTURE
Canyon Rio Sass
A natural spectacle of incomparable beauty … this is the Fondo Canyon, a deep ravine that bisects the important center of the Alta Val di Non. Since 2001 it has been passable thanks to walkways and steps, to go to the discovery of swirling waters, waterfalls and giant pots, fossils, stalactites and stalagmites. An elevation gain of 145 meters, 600 steps: an hour and a half of emotions. The light effects do the rest … they play with the ravines and with the splendid vegetation present in the final part. The water under the gangway runs at variable depths and the Rio Sass sinks in certain points up to 45-50 meters.
THE PARK
Fluviale Novella
In the Novella River Park there are mainly sedimentary rocks, but going down to the bed of the Novella stream, it is not rare to find pebbles of porphyry (effusive volcanic rock) and filladi (metamorphic rocks). Starting from the Mills of Cloz the path is ideally divisible into two different sections: the V-shaped valley and the gorge. The V-shaped valley is characterized by the so-called scaglia (dating back to 100 million years ago), which is partly red and partly gray: this refers to the different concentrations of oxygen in sea water during the formation period (this area was in fact submerged at the time by the Tethys).
NATURAL PARK HERITAGE UNESCO
Adamello Brenta
The Adamello Brenta Natural Park is the largest protected area in Trentino, located in western Trentino, with its 620.51 square kilometers including the Adamello and Brenta mountain groups, separated from the Val Rendena and included in the valleys of Non, di Sole and Giudicarie. It is affected by the presence of 48 lakes and the Adamello glacier, one of the largest in Europe.
THE LEGGEND
The brown bear
How come a bear in the Sanctuary of San Romedio? Legend has it that San Romedio wanted to take the road to Trento, to meet Vigilio, the Bishop of the city and receive his blessing. Shortly before leaving he found his horse on the ground, shot down by a bear that was tearing him to pieces. Without any fear San Romedio approached the bear and said: “Now you will be the one to take me to Trento”. Then he ordered him to crouch down to have his bridle put on. Miraculously the bear obeyed, allowing the hermit to reach Trento on his back.
SANCTUARY OF
San Romedio
The Sanctuary of San Romedio near Sanzeno in Val di Non is certainly the most interesting example of medieval Christian art in Trentino. It is a well-known place of pilgrimage, built on a limestone cliff over 70 meters high. Immersed in a splendid natural setting, the architectural complex is made up of several churches and chapels built on the rock. The entire structure is connected by a steep staircase with 131 steps.
THE CASTLES
Castel Thun
Castel Thun is a monumental building of medieval origin, one of the best preserved in Trentino and has always been the main seat of the powerful family of the Thun counts. It rises in the municipal area of Ton, in the Val di Non
PET FRIENDLY
At Garnì Biancaneve your 4-legged friends are welcome
Good Value Inn with a Friendly Staff
We enjoyed our stay here. The room was bright and cheerful, very clean and comfortable and the breakfast quite good. I forgot my laptop charger and they quickly sent it on to a hotel where I would be staying for a few days.
There is no restaurant, but many dinner options are nearby, including the five star Orso Grigio for a special occasion meal.
Gakpa
September 2018
Garnì Biancaneve
Loc. Villini dell’Alpe 14/A 38010 Ruffrè-Mendola (TN)
Phone and Fax: +39 0471 632268
Email: [email protected]
