Stava: Trails, Remembrance and Culture

Stava lies between Tesero, the Lavazè Plateau and Pampeago. When planning your visit, you can combine specific routes with remembrance of the Stava disaster and documentation of the valley’s former activities. This lets you connect a tour with your interest in nature, mining and local history.

Trails between Tesero and Stava

The 3.5-kilometre “Dove Stava una valle” trail starts in Tesero and follows the Rio Stava. It crosses the river at three points via footbridges. After a short detour to the Chiesetta della Palanca, the route ends at the Centro Stava 1985. You can reach Stava on this trail on an easy hike or cover the route by mountain bike. Route information and trail details may change due to maintenance and weather; check the conditions before setting out.

The return route to Tesero can follow the Via dei pianeti and the Osservatorio di Fiemme. Together with the onward trail to the sports ground, this makes a circular route of about 8 kilometres. The 3.5-kilometre connection from Tesero to the Centro and the longer circular tour are two different route options. The Sentiero Stava 1985 also offers several routes: depending on the route you choose, they take between about one hour and 15 minutes and four hours. The duration may also depend on conditions.

Remembrance and documentation

The Chiesetta della Palanca contains a crystal plaque bearing the names of the 268 victims of the Stava disaster. The plaque was blessed on the occasion of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Stava on 17 July 1988. The plaque of names and the precisely dated blessing give this visit a clear focus on remembrance.

The permanent exhibition “La Valle di Stava nelle attività passate” is housed in the same building as the Centro di documentazione di Stava. It is open to the public during the documentation centre’s opening hours. The Centro di documentazione di Stava also displays objects related to mining in Prestavel. The exhibition and exhibits draw attention to different aspects: the valley’s former activities and mining in Prestavel. The nature section of the Sentiero Stava 1985, in turn, offers insights into forest life and the centuries-old relationship between people, the forest and the mountain landscape.

Practical planning for your visit

From the Centro Stava 1985, you can reach the Chiesetta della Palanca on foot in about 15 minutes. There are two car parks near the church. For 2026, additional morning opening hours are listed for the Centro di Documentazione Stava in July and August, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Check the opening times before your trip. Reservations are recommended for groups and for visits outside these times.

Another activity is Arrampicata sportiva Stava, an indoor climbing gym where the services of a mountain guide are available. Alongside the trails, indoor climbing and the offered mountain-guide assistance provide another activity option.

Discover more destinations: Crosano, Salobbi, Mezzano, Aldeno, Candriai, Sant'antonio Di Mavignola, Denno, Locca

Return to the main travel overview: Trentino.