Altopiano della Paganella
The Paganella Plateau, in the heart of Trentino, unites the villages of Andalo, Molveno, Fai della Paganella, Cavedago, and Sporma...
Ενημερώθηκε στις 20 Ιουλίου 2026
Altopiano della Paganella
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Η ιστορία
Η ιστορία του/της Altopiano della Paganella
Geography and territory
The Paganella Plateau is located in Trentino, in the western part of the Trentino-Alto Adige region, between the Val di Non and the Valle dei Laghi, not far from the provincial capital Trento. The territory includes the municipalities of Andalo, Molveno, Fai della Paganella, Cavedago, and Spormaggiore, spread across a plateau that slopes down from the Dolomite walls of the Brenta towards the Adige valley. Monte Paganella, with its 2125 meters, dominates the landscape and is the visual and skiing reference point for the entire area, while to the west, the wilder scenery of the Brenta group opens up, bordering the Adamello Brenta Natural Park.
History and identity
Historically a land of shepherds, woodcutters, and small mountain agriculture, the Paganella Plateau has for centuries maintained an economy linked to mountain farms (masi), high-altitude pastures, and the exploitation of timber from the spruce forests. Andalo and Fai della Paganella were part of the ancient district of Anaunia, while Molveno, nestled on the lake of the same name, developed a tourist vocation linked to summer stays as early as the 19th century. Since the 1960s, the construction of ski lifts on the Paganella has transformed the area into one of Trentino's leading ski destinations, without erasing the rural identity that can still be felt in the mountain farms and alpine pastures scattered across the plateau.
Landscape and nature
The landscape of the Paganella Plateau alternates between gentle grassy slopes, coniferous forests, and the imposing vertical walls of the Brenta Dolomites, the only Dolomites west of the Adige River and included in the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2009. A large part of the territory falls within the Adamello Brenta Natural Park, which protects chamois, roe deer, and a population of brown bears reintroduced since the 1990s. Lake Molveno, of glacial origin, is often listed among the most beautiful lakes in Italy for the clarity of its waters and the backdrop of the Brenta peaks; a dense network of hiking trails and cycle paths develops around the plateau.
Villages and what to see
Andalo is the most developed tourist center of the plateau, with ski lifts to Paganella, an ice rink, and a bike park popular with mountain bike enthusiasts. Molveno stretches along the shore of the lake of the same name, with a pedestrian promenade and a beach from which the Brenta Dolomites can be admired. Fai della Paganella retains a more intimate layout, with views of the Adige Valley and the Non Valley, while Spormaggiore hosts the Adamello Brenta Wildlife Park, dedicated to the brown bear. Cavedago completes the picture with the tranquility of its farmhouses and high-altitude pastures.
Food and traditions
The cuisine of the plateau is rooted in the peasant tradition of Trentino: canederli, strangolapreti, and polenta are served with Alpine pasture cheeses such as Trentingrana and Spressa delle Giudicarie DOP, along with cured meats, mountain honey, and blueberries picked in the woods. Butter and cheese are still produced in the farmhouses using milk from cows grazing at high altitudes in the summer. Among the wines, you can find Trentino labels such as Teroldego, often paired with local grappas. Village festivals and celebrations linked to the agricultural calendar still mark the life of the plateau communities today.
Not to be missed
- Lake Molveno
- Brenta Dolomites and Adamello Brenta Nature Park
- Monte Paganella cable cars and ski lifts
- Adamello Brenta Wildlife Park in Spormaggiore
- Paganella Bike Park and the plateau's hiking trails
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