Mezzano

Mezzano (MeÄ‘àn in Primiero dialect) is located in the Primiero valley between Imer and Fiera di Primiero, in Trentino Alto-Adige. The origins of its name are still debated, but the most logical hypothesis has it derived from the Latin medianum, given its central position between the two neighbouring towns Imèr (from imus, inferior) and Siror (from superior). Archaeological finds show a human presence since the Mesolithic period, although only seasonal and at high altitudes. However, it is only after the year one thousand that the first information appears on the village and the valley, which was already well organised from an administrative point of view: Mezzano represented one of the four columellos into which the Primiero Community was divided. In the square dedicated to Monsignor Rodolfo Orler stands the patronal Church of San Giorgio. The fountain square is flanked by the Orler House. There are many characteristic houses of traditional Primiero building: the Casa degli Usseri, probably built by a rich man from Hungary, who owned all the local countryside; the Canton Grison with the Tabernacle of St. George; the Casa Cosnèr with a stone fountain; the Casa Lotti and the Case brusade. Next to the town hall is Casa Cunico, an elegant Baroque building. Since 2010, there has been a permanent exhibition entitled 'Cataste & Canzei'. The exhibition takes up the ancient custom, still practised today, of stacking wood under the house so that it can dry out and be burnt during the winter. This led to the creation of works of art, again using stacked wood, created by local artists. Each year, the exhibition is renewed with the addition of a new pile, to the initial fourteen, located at characteristic points in the village. In the surroundings of Mezzano it is possible to discover other very evocative places, such as the Paneveggio Pale di San Martino Nature Park, the Prati di San Giovanni, an alpine area that is very popular in summer, rich in masi (farmsteads) and wells for collecting rainwater. Here there is the small Church of San Giovanni. The old road from Mezzano to San Giovanni is very picturesque, as is the Strada de Molarén, which passes by the Tabernacle of Santa Fosca and the stala granda (large stable): a majestic early mountain farmstead.