Summer in the Parco Naturale Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino

To the south-east, the silver of the Pale di San Martino, to the north, the green of the Paneveggio Forest, to the west, the dark grey of the Lagorai; three colours for three different environments, united for more than thirty years in the Parco Naturale Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino.  There are various natural environments in an area of around 20,000 hectares: from rocky mountain-sides to meadows and alpine pastures, from rushing torrents to calm mirrors of water, from fir forests to forests of mixed broadleaf trees, from glaciers to peat-bogs.

Every year, a rich and varied programme of initiatives and exhibitions is devised to discover one of the most beautiful corners of Trentino.  There are many activities in which to participate: visits to mountain huts to learn about milk production, nature excursions in collaboration with Alpine Guides, themed days (flora, fauna, archaeology), slide and film evenings and “Sunday at Villa Welsperg”, a weekly appointment at the HQ of the Park to learn more about topics such as honey extraction and cheese making, around which are organised events and participative workshops .

There are many initiative for children and teenagers, temporary exhibitions in the various Visitor Centres or classical and contemporary music concerts such as “The sounds of the Dolomites” and “Concerts at mid-altitude”

Our suggestions for your holiday: The week of the Park

• Monday - Live the malga: a walk from Paneveggio to Malga Bocche where it is possible to milk a cow, give milk to calves and lambs, feed the pigs, cook polenta and sausages in the open air.  Small children can explore around the malga on the back of a donkey.
• Tuesday – the taste of honey: an easy, morning guided walk among the frescoes of Tonadico, the Church of San Vittore and the study where Don Fuganti carried out his research into bees.  It should be possible to visit an apiary with tasting of honey products.  Afternoon – an environmental workshop for children at Villa Welsperg.
• Wednesday – Searching for the musical trees: a walk to discover the community forest of Paneveggio, known as the “Forest of Violins” because of the qualities of its Norway spruce which were used in the past for the construction of harmonia, pianos and bow instruments.  At Caoria, Tour of the Ethnographic Path of the Vanoi (route through meadows and mountain dwellings).
• Thursday – at Paneveggio and at Passo Rolle, themed days dedicated to micology, botany, geology and to discover the tracks of the Great War.  In Val Canali “The taste of small fruits”, an easy walk from Villa Welsperg to the Dalaibi Meadows with a visit to an agricultural company and tasting of strawberries, blackberries and other small fruits, or “Cheese in Malga”, a hike through meadows and pastures, mountain huts and dwellings to re-discover the traditional products of milk-making.
• Friday – at San Martino, guided visit to the Biotope of the Prà delle Nasse (one of forty protected biotopes in the Province of Trento), at Paneveggio “From macro to microcosmo…”  discovery of the macroscopic world of the Paneveggio Forest with microscopic analysis of the specimens gathered.  At Villa Welsperg “My friend, Water!” open air activity to discover and analyse the world of water and the living creatures associated with it.
• Saturday – nature walks with the Alpine Guides or guided walks of the Ethnographic Path of the Vanoi Ecomuseo
• Sunday – “Turn the wheel, cut the saw” a working demonstration of the hydraulic sawmill “Siega de Valzanca” in the Vanoi Valley.  At Villa Welsperg, day to learn more about nature topics.   At the end of September and beginning of October “The call of the deer”, night excursions in the Paneveggio Forest to hear the call of red deer in love.

For the complete programme, changes or further information on the activities offered, visit the site of the Parco Naturale di Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino: www.parcopan.org