Ala

Located in Vallagarina at the mouth of the Val di Ronchi, the village of Ala still preserves a Baroque atmosphere. The Museum of Ancient Piano shows off the prestigious private piano collection from the Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and Chopin era courtesy of pianist and collector Temenuschka Vesselinova. These ancient specimens are kept in the rooms on the ground floor of Palazzo de 'Pizzini, a resting place for nobles, princes and sovereigns, from Maria Teresa of Austria to Napoleon Bonaparte and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. At Palazzo Taddei, now undergoing restoration, it will open the provincial textile museum in the future.

In a dominant position on the historic center, you can see the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, of ancient origins. To the north of the village, along the path that runs along the ancient Roman road, stands the majestic sanctuary of San Valentino, an ancient place of worship. A few kilometers from Ala, along the road that leads to Verona, is the ancient Romanesque church of San Pietro in Bosco. Along the route that runs through the sites of the First World War in Vallagarina, there is the Serravalle memorial stone, in memory of the exact place where, on October 29, 1918, the Habsburg army asked to suspend the fighting.

In summer the center comes alive on the occasion of its most important event Ala Città di Velluto, name with which the village was renamed for the rich silk production during the eighteenth century. During the days of the event you will feel like going back in time, surrounded by figures in period costumes that will guide you to the discovery of this fascinating century. Squares and palaces will open their doors to events and shows of art, music and poetry, while the courtyards and gardens will host activities of the past and tastings of local delicacies.

Ala's palaces
During the summer there are many guided tours organized in the historic center of Ala and its buildings. Among these it is possible to visit Palazzo Taddei, the most ancient of Ala, dating back to the fifteenth century and the ancient home of the Taddei family of barons, originally from Florence and among the first to start making velvet in the middle of the seventeenth century. The building will in future be the seat of the Provincial Museum of Textiles of Ala. The second stop is at Palazzo de 'Pizzini von Hochenbrunn, a complex of three buildings built between the late 1600s and the late 1700s. Pizzini, originally from Castellano, arrived in Ala at the end of the 16th century to carry out the activity of " molinarj ". Subsequently, thanks to the flourishing textile business they undertook, their homes became larger, richer and more impressive. The oldest of the structures, Palazzo de 'Pizzini - di Lenna is now home to the Museum of Ancient Piano and the International Academy of musical interpretation on period instruments. There were several famous people who stayed in the three Pizzini palaces: Charles III of Spain, Charles VI, Napoleon Bonaparte, Francis I and Maria Teresa of Austria and Wolfang Amadeus Mozart. A further stop is Palazzo Malfatti-Azzolini, named after the two families who succeeded each other in the property of this prestigious neoclassical building. The Malfatti, originally from Verona, historically represent Ala's oldest noble family.

In the summer months the "Ala Città di Musica" festival is organized, an intense calendar of concerts, workshops and meetings with renowned international artists in the courtyards, squares and palaces of the village. Finally, for lovers of outdoor sports, on the Lessinia plateau you can practice Nordic walking, mountain biking or walking among the typical stone roofs.

Lessinia Trentina, the pastures of the sky
From the bottom of the Sega di Ala climb to the top where you will discover the most beautiful views from the Valle dell'Adige to the Dolomites, on the border between the province of Trento and Verona, in an ancient landscape suspended between earth and sky, in the silence broken only from the wind. Here, in Lessinia trentina, you can see the typical mountain pastures with stone roofs, still used today for the pasture and which tell the story of this hidden plateau, which has always been dedicated to pastoralism. In summer there are numerous events organized to enhance this tradition and where you can taste fresh milk, cheeses, yoghurt and other typical products. Sport lovers will be able to follow the wide network of paths and dirt roads with uneven gradients by mountain bike. In winter, the trails in the area are suitable for snowshoeing and snow walking. Alternatively, you can experience the thrill of Nordic skiing on the slopes at Passo Fittanze.