Val di Sole
Val di Sole is a valley in western Trentino carved by the Noce river, framed by the Stelvio National Park and the Adamello-Brenta...
Updated 20 July 2026
Val di Sole
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The story
The story of Val di Sole
Geography and location of Val di Sole
Val di Sole lies in the north-western part of Trentino, within the autonomous province of Trento, and stretches along the course of the Noce river between the Tonale Pass and the Mostizzolo narrows. The valley is bounded to the north by the Ortles-Cevedale massif and the Stelvio National Park, and to the south by the Brenta Dolomites and the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park. It includes municipalities such as Malé, the historic main town, Dimaro Folgarida, Commezzadura, Ossana, Vermiglio, Peio, Rabbi, Caldes and Croviana, each facing onto the main valley or the side valleys of Val di Peio and Val di Rabbi.
History and identity of the territory
Val di Sole has a long history tied to its borderland position, mountain trade routes and the defence of passages toward Trentino and Lombardy. Evidence of this past survives in Castel San Michele in Ossana, a medieval fortification built to control the valley and the access to the Tonale Pass, also linked to events of the First World War fought on the surrounding peaks. Local place names and traditions still carry the legacy of Trentino's alpine culture, shaped by small farming and pastoral communities that over the centuries adapted to a demanding environment, forging a strong shared valley identity among its different villages.
Landscape and nature
Val di Sole is crossed by the Noce river, an alpine watercourse known throughout Europe for whitewater rafting and international canoe slalom competitions. The valley sits between two major protected areas: the Stelvio National Park, with the glaciers and peaks of the Ortles-Cevedale group, and the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park, home to coniferous forests, alpine lakes and the Dolomite walls of the Brenta group. The side valleys of Peio and Rabbi add high-mountain environments with peat bogs, waterfalls and alpine pasture huts, while the valley floor offers a cycle path linking the various villages, making the territory accessible to hikers and cyclists alike.
Villages and main places to see
Malé, the valley's main town, preserves a historic centre with buildings in typical Trentino style and serves as a hub for services and connections. Dimaro Folgarida is known as the gateway to the Folgarida-Marilleva ski area, linked to the Presanella group and the slopes of Val di Sole. Ossana is home to the aforementioned Castel San Michele, while Vermiglio, at the foot of the Tonale Pass, forms the gateway toward Lombardy and the mountains of the First World War. Peio, in the side valley of the same name, is renowned for the Terme di Peio thermal baths, drawing on local mineral waters, as well as for its access to the Stelvio National Park.
Food, wine and traditions
The cuisine of Val di Sole reflects Trentino's rural and alpine tradition, with mountain-pasture cheeses, the local Casolet cheese produced in the valley, smoked cured meats and polenta as a staple of the valley table. Among the local products are Trentino apples grown on the valley floor, wild berries and mushrooms gathered in the surrounding forests, along with spirits such as grappa. The alpine pasture huts scattered across the slopes of the main valley and the side valleys of Peio and Rabbi remain key spots for buying and tasting cheeses and dairy products made using traditional methods, often celebrated during village fairs and festivals tied to the farming calendar.
Not to be missed
- Rafting and canoeing on the Noce river
- Castel San Michele in Ossana
- Terme di Peio thermal baths in Val di Peio
- Folgarida-Marilleva ski area
- Hiking in the Stelvio National Park and the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park
To see
What to see in Val di Sole
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Val di Sole
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