Valle dei Laghi
Valle dei Laghi is a district of Trentino between Trento and Lake Garda, dotted with alpine lakes set among cliffs and vineyards
Updated 20 July 2026
Valle dei Laghi
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The story
The story of Valle dei Laghi
Geography and location
Valle dei Laghi lies in central-western Trentino, between the city of Trento and the northern shores of Lake Garda, along the corridor linking the Adige Valley to the Sarca Valley. The area includes the municipalities of Cavedine, Vallelaghi and Madruzzo, the latter formed by the merger of Calavino, Lasino and Padergnone, while Vallelaghi brings together Fornace, Terlago and Vezzano. The district takes its name from the many small lakes scattered across it, including Toblino, Cavedine, Santa Massenza and Terlago, set between the slopes of Monte Bondone and the Dolomite foothills of the Paganella.
History and identity
The history of Valle dei Laghi is tied to its role as a transit route between Trento and Lake Garda, travelled since Roman times and later shaped by the power of the Prince-Bishops of Trento, among whom the Madruzzo family was especially influential — the 2016 municipal merger takes its name from this dynasty. The valley's villages have preserved a rural identity built on viticulture, farming and small-scale lake fishing, while local administration was reorganised in the 2010s through municipal mergers that created Vallelaghi and Madruzzo, keeping the historic hamlets distinct within them.
Landscape and nature
The landscape of Valle dei Laghi is defined by the contrast between rocky cliffs dropping to the water and terraces planted with vines and olive trees, made possible by a mild microclimate influenced by nearby Lake Garda. The lakes of Toblino, Cavedine and Santa Massenza are fringed with reed beds and woodland, providing habitat for waterfowl, while Lake Santa Massenza is also home to a historic hydroelectric power station. A cycle path linking Trento to Lake Garda runs through the valley and is popular with cycle tourists, alongside hiking trails climbing towards the slopes of Monte Bondone.
Villages and places to see
Among the valley's landmark sites is Castel Toblino, an ancient manor overlooking the lake of the same name, now used for events and dining. Sarche, a hamlet of Madruzzo, is the crossroads towards the Sarca Valley and Lake Garda, while Calavino and Lasino retain historic centres typical of Trentino villages. Vezzano and Terlago, hamlets of Vallelaghi, look out respectively over the cultivated plain and Lake Terlago. Cavedine, set beside the swimmable lake bearing its name, is a starting point for walks along the shore and towards the scattered farmsteads on the surrounding hills.
Food, wine and traditions
Valle dei Laghi is the home of Vino Santo Trentino DOC, a rare passito wine made from Nosiola grapes dried on racks called arele until the following spring, when they are pressed around Holy Thursday. The area also produces extra virgin olive oil, favoured by the mild lakeside climate, and offers dishes linked to lake fishing, such as marinated freshwater fish. Wineries and farm-stays across the district, particularly around Calavino, Lasino and Padergnone, offer tastings of Nosiola and Vino Santo, keeping alive a winemaking tradition handed down through generations of farming families.
Not to be missed
- Castel Toblino on the lake of the same name
- Lake Cavedine and its lakeside beach
- Lake Santa Massenza and its historic hydroelectric plant
- Vino Santo and Nosiola wine tastings at local cellars
- Trento–Garda cycle path through the valley's vineyards
To see
What to see in Valle dei Laghi
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Routes in Valle dei Laghi
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