Altopiano di Folgaria
Folgaria has ancient origins that date back to the German-Cimbrian colonization between the 10th and the 13th century. This area always contrasted the medieval feudal power of Castel Beseno in order to protect its own privileges as a free and indipendent community. Nowadays it represents one of the most ancient and famous rural communities in Trentino.
During the the First World War, long battles between the Italian and the Austrian armies took place here. As an evidence of those tragedies, in the historic area you can still find some emplacements, tunnels and, above all, the ruins of 7 forts that were connected to each other with ex-military paths, transformed into trenchs including the Forte Cherle - on the outskirts you can visit the so-called "Scala dell'Imperatore" ("The Emperor's staircase") and the ruins of the old field hospital - and the Forte Dosso del Sommowhich consisted of three buildings connected to each other with a tunnel bored in the rocks and armed with 4 bronze howitzers and several machine-gun niches. Unluckily, now these forts are reduced to ruins.
Today Folgaria has become one of the most renowned holiday resorts in the region.
Indeed, this area is really rich in natural beauties.
For instance, you can visit the Passo Coe botanic gardens, a 30000 square metres-wide nature reserve that boasts many beautiful plants and some evident, impressive superficial karst phenomena such as two deep dolines.
The Ecchen peat-bog can be rightly considered unique of its kind: not only for its origins and structure (determined by the concomitance of glacial and karst phenomena) but also for the presence of seven different marshland vegetable combinations, divided into two groups: those that developed on morbid substratum and those that grow on inorganic base.
The geological path in Mezzomonte is situated in the middle of the Rio Cavallo valley. Here you can see the Casom glacial potholes, the Noz morainic deposits, the local rocks and the glacial potholes of the river itself.
The Lavarone Lake, well-known for its limpid water and cosy atmosphere, became the beloved resort of the Viennese bourgeoisie during the fashinating Belle Epoque. In particular Sigmund Freud, the inventor of psychoanalysis, used to spend his holidays here.
This beautiful place is also characterized by a very mild climate with very sunny, warm summers (cooled, at the same time, by the alpine breeze) and tepid winters.
Therefore Folgaria is the ideal destination for people who love hiking on the mountains and walking in the snow, but also for those who want to learn more about the history and culture of this territory, one of the most interesting in Trentino.
In winter Folgaria becomes a ski resort equipped for all winter sports.
