Borgo Valsugana: Art, river landscape and history

Borgo Valsugana combines a river landscape in its historic centre with exhibitions on art and history, as well as routes to outdoor artworks. When planning your stay, it helps to distinguish between these different highlights: the town centre offers a different focus from the art venues in Val di Sella or the route to Castel Telvana. You can tailor your trip to your interests in architecture, regional history or outdoor art.

The Brenta and historic buildings

The historic centre of Borgo Valsugana stretches along both banks of the Brenta, forming an urbanised river landscape. Along Corso Ausugum, portals, late Renaissance and Baroque palaces, shops and churches line the street. The river setting and architectural heritage give the town distinct facets: the Brenta shapes the landscape of the centre, while the architecture along Corso Ausugum reveals different periods.

Art and history in town

The Mostra Permanente della Grande Guerra in Valsugana e sul Lagorai is housed in the former Mulino Spagolla, by the river in the historic centre. It focuses on the First World War in the Valsugana and Lagorai areas. Spazio Klien offers a different artistic focus: it is dedicated to Erika Giovanna Klien, an avant-garde artist born in Borgo Valsugana on 12 April 1900. Its temporary exhibitions cover painting, sculpture, bibliographic material and photography, with particular attention to local artists and artists from Trentino more broadly.

In the hamlet of Olle, Museo Casa Andriollo displays documents and artefacts from women’s lives, particularly in the domestic sphere. Oratorio di San Rocco offers another way to explore history: the local population built it in 1509 as a vow against the plague that depopulated the valley. The connection between the plague and the events of the time is considered likely. Borgo Valsugana thus brings together different historical themes, from wartime events to women’s daily lives and the history of the oratory.

Arte Sella and outdoor art

Arte Sella is an open-air art exhibition along a forest road on the southern slopes of Monte Armentera in Val di Sella, within the municipality of Borgo Valsugana. The Artenatura trail leads to artworks and monumental trees. The site also includes Malga Costa as an exhibition and cultural space; Arte Sella is located at Malga Costa. Here, artworks, trees and the trail’s route offer a different focus from the exhibitions in the historic centre. If you plan to visit Arte Sella, check the current schedule in advance.

Distinguishing routes and destinations

From the historic centre, the Sentiero dei Castelli leads to Castel Telvana. The trail follows the slopes of Monte Ciolino to the back of the castle and offers views across the Valsugana. La Rocchetta, in the area around Borgo Valsugana, is described as approximately five minutes away by car, bicycle or bus; numerous routes and paths also lead there on foot. The approximate five-minute estimate applies to travel by car, bicycle and bus. This helps distinguish the destinations by how they can be reached: a route from the historic centre is described for Castel Telvana, while several forms of transport as well as walking routes are mentioned for La Rocchetta. If you plan to walk these routes, check current trail conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Thenn, Strembo, Brentonico, Cavizzana, Pietra, Vela, Cimego, Ronzo-Chienis.

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