Caldonazzo
Caldonazzo is a municipality in the Valsugana, the valley carved by the Brenta river that opens south-east of Trento toward Veneto
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Caldonazzo now
The story
The story of Caldonazzo
Caldonazzo in the Valsugana of the Lakes
Caldonazzo lies in the lower Valsugana, about twenty kilometres from Trento, in the stretch of valley that is home to Lake Caldonazzo and Lake Levico, an area known as the Valsugana of the Lakes. The municipal territory extends between the valley floor, crossed by the Trento-Venice railway line and the Valsugana state road, and the slopes rising toward Monte Vigolana to the west and toward the Vezzena and Lavarone plateau to the south, on the border with the province of Vicenza. The hamlets of Brenta and Lochere, together with the main town, make up a municipality whose life has always been tied to the lake that bears its name and from which the Brenta river originates, destined to flow for over a hundred kilometres before reaching the Adriatic. This combination of water, mountains and transport routes has made Caldonazzo, since the Middle Ages, a point of reference for the whole valley.
Lake Caldonazzo: the Largest Lake Entirely in Trentino
With a surface area of around 5.4 square kilometres, Lake Caldonazzo is the largest lake basin lying entirely within Trentino territory, since Lake Garda, though far larger, belongs to the province of Trento only for a small portion. Its waters, among the warmest in Europe thanks to the low elevation and exposure, reach temperatures of around 24 degrees in summer and allow swimming from May to September; water quality is certified by the Blue Flag, an award given to beaches that meet high environmental and safety standards. Along the Caldonazzo shore, free beaches alternate with equipped facilities offering gently sloping lake beds suited to families, play areas and shaded meadows, as well as a dedicated dog beach, the Bau Beach at San Cristoforo, which has made the lake a popular destination for those travelling with pets.
Water Sports and the Valsugana Cycle Path
Lake Caldonazzo has for decades been a reference point for water sports in Trentino: the afternoon winds that blow up the valley make it well suited to sailing and windsurfing, while the calmer morning waters are ideal for canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddling, and some nautical clubs also manage authorised areas for water skiing. The Valsugana cycle path starts from the lake, a largely flat route that follows the course of the Brenta and links Caldonazzo to Trento upstream and, downstream, to Bassano del Grappa and Veneto, offering dozens of kilometres suited to cyclists of every level. Secondary paths also run along the lake shore, connecting the beaches of the main town with those of neighbouring municipalities and allowing much of the lake to be circled on protected routes separated from vehicle traffic.
The Old Town, the Corte Trapp and the Torre dei Sicconi
The historic centre of Caldonazzo keeps the typical layout of Trentino's rural villages, with narrow lanes and stone houses clustered around the Magnifica Corte, also known as Castel Trapp: already documented in the 11th century as an administrative and judicial seat, it was the residence of the lords of Caldonazzo before being sold in 1461 to the Tyrolean Trapp family, who held it for a long time, leaving behind frescoes and remains of paintings depicting a knightly tournament. Facing the castle stands the 14th-century church of San Sisto, with a fresco cycle on the ceiling depicting the Madonna and Child, San Valentino and San Rocco, while the church of San Valentino, dating back to the 13th century, preserves a nave frescoed at the end of the 14th century by Giovanni da Volpino of Bergamo. On nearby Monte Rive stand the remains of the Torre dei Sicconi, built in 1201 by the sons of Varimberto of Caldonazzo and destroyed in 1915 during the First World War, today at the heart of a themed trail with a historic garden.
Nature, the Great War Front and Experiences
Behind Caldonazzo the land rises toward the Vezzena plateau, an offshoot of the Alpe Cimbra that during the First World War was the scene of fierce fighting along the border between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy: the town's population was evacuated at the time and dozens of local soldiers lost their lives in the conflict. Even today the old Menador road, which runs for about fourteen kilometres through pastures and woods, allows visitors to retrace the sites of that front on foot or by mountain bike. Closer to town, trails climbing toward Monte Vigolana and the surrounding heights offer panoramic views over the lake and the Valsugana, rounding out an outdoor offering that combines a lakeside holiday with the discovery of the mountains and the historical memory of this corner of Trentino.
Not to be missed
- Swimming and water sports on the Blue Flag beaches of Lake Caldonazzo
- A visit to the Magnifica Corte Trapp in the old town centre
- The 14th-century frescoes of the churches of San Sisto and San Valentino
- The remains of the Torre dei Sicconi on Monte Rive
- A ride along the Valsugana cycle path beside the Brenta river
To see
What to see in Caldonazzo
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Routes in Caldonazzo
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