Val di Non
Val di Non is one of the largest districts of western Trentino, famous for its endless apple orchards, Lake Santa Giustina, the Sa...
Updated 20 July 2026
Val di Non
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The story
The story of Val di Non
Geography and Location of Val di Non
Val di Non lies in western Trentino, wedged between Val di Sole, South Tyrol and the Brenta Dolomites, within the boundaries of the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park, which frames its southern and western edges. The district stretches along the Noce torrent, from which it takes its name, and includes municipalities such as Cles, Fondo, Sanzeno and Predaia, alongside Ville d'Anaunia, Romeno, Revo and Novella. The Mendola Pass connects it to the Adige Valley and Bolzano, while to the south it borders the Rotaliana Plain. Elevation ranges from terraced valley floors to high alpine pastures, forming a mosaic of orchards, woods and meadows.
History and Identity: The Land of the Anauni
The valley's ancient name, Anaunia, comes from the Rhaetian population of the Anauni, mentioned in the famous Tabula Clesiana: the bronze tablet of 46 AD, found in Cles, through which Emperor Claudius granted Roman citizenship to the Anauni, the Tulliassi and the Sindini. A few decades later, in 397 AD, Sisinius, Martyrius and Alexander, missionaries sent by Bishop Vigilius of Trento, were martyred at Sanzeno: an episode marking the valley's Christianization still commemorated in local devotion today. In later centuries Val di Non was a borderland between the Prince-Bishopric of Trento and Habsburg power, dotted with noble castles.
Landscape and Nature: Lakes and Mountains
The landscape of Val di Non is dominated by Lake Santa Giustina, Trentino's largest artificial lake, created by damming the Noce river and now a destination for walks and boat trips. Nearby, within the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park, Lake Tovel is renowned for the natural phenomenon of waters that once turned red, caused by a microscopic alga. All around, conifer forests, the dolomite walls of the Brenta Group and high-altitude trails offer sweeping alpine scenery, while the valley floor is covered by an unbroken succession of apple orchards that change color with every season, from spring blossom to autumn harvest.
Villages and Places to See
Cles, the valley's main town, gathers around Cles Castle and its historic center with the Palazzo Assessorile. Sanzeno holds the Basilica of the Holy Martyrs and, just above it, the Sanctuary of San Romedio, perched on a rocky spur and reached via a scenic stairway winding past chapels carved into the stone. Fondo conveys the atmosphere of the upper Val di Non, with its historic center and carnival traditions. Predaia, a municipality born from the merger of several villages, and Vigo di Ton with nearby Castel Thun complete an itinerary alternating rural villages, frescoed churches and restored manors open to visitors.
Food, Wine and Local Traditions
Val di Non is synonymous with apples: the Mela Val di Non DOP, among the first Italian varieties to earn the designation, colors orchards spanning thousands of hectares and supplies local ciders, juices and spirits. Alongside the apple trees grow soft fruits such as raspberries and blueberries, while mountain dairies produce alpine cheeses and Trentingrana. Traditional farming cuisine features canederli dumplings, polenta with game, carne salada and speck, paired with local wines and grappas. Autumn apple festivals and markets tied to the Sanctuary of San Romedio punctuate the calendar of local traditions.
Not to be missed
- Sanctuary of San Romedio, perched on the rock above Sanzeno
- Lake Santa Giustina, Trentino's largest artificial lake
- Cles Castle and the historic center of the valley's main town
- Lake Tovel, within the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park
- Castel Thun in Vigo di Ton, one of Trentino's best-preserved castles
To see
What to see in Val di Non
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Routes in Val di Non
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