Nature and Science
A vacation in touch with the wonders that surround us
Chalet Maso Vecchio is the perfect base for nature lovers and explorers eager to immerse themselves in the wonders of Trentino. We’ll guide you through some of the area’s most spectacular and captivating natural attractions, inviting you to discover the rich biodiversity, breathtaking views, and outdoor activities that make this region so enchanting.
Vaia Griffin
On the evening of October 29, 2018, the entire Alpine region of northeastern Italy was hit by a devastating storm, with wind gusts reaching up to 200 km per hour. It is estimated that 20 million spruce trees were felled in just a few hours—Italy’s worst-ever forest disaster, known as Storm Vaia.
Marco Martalar, a sculptor and wood artist, a mountain dweller and nature lover, deeply shaken by this event, is experimenting with a new technique to give meaning to and breathe new life into the wood from the felled trees.
The Griffin, a mythological creature that combines the Trentino eagle and the winged lion —the emblem of Veneto—is located on the geographical border between Trentino and Veneto, symbolizing the union between the two regions.
Celado Astronomical Observatory
The Celado Astronomical Observatory, located at an elevation of about 1,300 meters above sea level, is a fascinating and magical place dedicatedto exploring the night sky.
This observatory offers astronomy enthusiasts and the curious alike a unique opportunity to explore the universe through its powerful telescopes and the expertise of its astronomers.
With the night sky stretching out above them, visitors can gaze at the stars, observe distant planets, discover constellations, and marvel at celestial phenomena such as shooting stars and nebulae.
TheCelado Astronomical Observatory is a window onto infinity, a place where science and the beauty of the cosmos come together ina unique experience. All you have to do is book your visit to embark on an unforgettable journey through the universe.
Arte Sella
Arte Sella is a one-of-a-kind art project located in Valsugana, in Trentino. Founded in 1986 by a group of artists and environmentalists, Arte Sella combinescontemporary art with nature, creating an environment where works of art interact harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.
The artists use natural materials and are environmentally conscious, often incorporating the natural cycle of life into their works. Arte Sella is a celebration of human creativity and the beauty of nature, offering visitors an extraordinary experience of artistic exploration in the great outdoors.
This project demonstrates how art can draw inspiration from and engage with the natural environment, conveying an important message about the importance of conservation and environmental sustainability.
For information and events, visit the website of Arte Sella.
Biolago of Castello Tesino
A natural swimming lake has been created in Castello Tesino, where residents and tourists can enjoy a refreshing swim or a dip while taking in the peace and greenery of the area. It is located in the multi-purpose sports area, which also features a children’s playground.
The facility has a swimming area of 700 square meters, reaches a depth of 1.40 meters, and includes a children’s pool with a maximum depth of 70 centimeters.
As a bio-lake, its main feature is the natural purification of water. Through the use of specific materials—including various types of clay and gravel—the water is naturally filtered and purified (that is, without the addition of chemicals), resulting in warmer water with a lower bacterial count, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with the surrounding ecosystem.
Open every day during the summer, it offers a chance to relax surrounded by the beauty of our mountains.
La Cascatella Park
Set against the magnificent backdrop of a natural amphitheater, just a stone’s throw away from us, nature offers a colorful landscape featuring a refreshing waterfall and a lush green meadow.
The park, which is meticulously maintained during the summer, offers visitors the chance to spend relaxing hours surrounded by nature.
In winter, this place transforms into a paradise where the sound of the waterfall enlivens a walk through the snow. The silence helps you find yourself and become completely at one with nature.
Here you’ll find a beach volleyball court, a snack bar, and about 15 barbecue spots.
Alcide Degasperi House Museum
From the beloved places of Trentino to the stage of 20th-century history, from the Habsburg Empire to the Italian Republic: Alcide De Gasperi emerges as an exceptional witness to an entire era.
Tracing his journey and personal story means delving into the changes, tragedies, and great hopes that have shaped today’s world.
The Museum is housed in De Gasperi’s birthplace, a symbolic site where his long and intense journey began. Alcide’s life and experiences—always intertwined with major historical events—are recounted through sounds, images, and a few objects and documents.
Not a collection of relics, but a museum of ideas, where the focus is on the values that guided the man and the statesman on his journey from this small village on the borders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the threshold of a united Europe.
Garden of Europe - Degasperi Foundation
The Pieve Tesino Garden, however, is different from those of the Adenauer Haus and the Maisons Monnet and Schuman: these are places where the owners lived, worked to build Europe, and sought moments of peace and quiet. The Garden of Europe, on the other hand, was created posthumously: physically separate from Alcide De Gasperi’s birthplace, it has been deliberately enriched with powerful symbolic elements.
The garden is situated on a gentle slope at the entrance to theTesino Arboretum and was chosen as the ideal location for the installation, which was designed by the Alpine Studies Center at the University of Tuscia.
The project was carried out by the Autonomous Province of Trento through the Nature Conservation and Environmental Enhancement Service of the Department of Forest Resources, which is also responsible for its maintenance.
Tesino Caves
Winding its way through the mountain for about 400 meters, the Castello Tesino Cave is a karst formation characterized by tunnels, intricate patterns, stalactites, and stalagmites that have formed over the course of millennia.
The cave bears strange marks carved into its walls in various places, attributed to Ursus speleus ros, the cave bear, a contemporary of prehistoric humans during the Quaternary period. In Trentino, only fragmentary fossil remains of this species have been found, and the Castello Tesino Cave remains to this day the only cave that preserves these rare and valuable traces.
The cave can only be visited with a guide and by reservation; for more information, visit the website of the Grotte del Tesino.
