Balbido-Rango: Murals, Village Architecture and Trails

Rango and its rural architecture

Rango is a member of the “Borghi più Belli d’Italia” club of Italy’s most beautiful villages. Rango is a striking example of rural architecture with original buildings. These form a compact settlement structure with passageways, courtyards and fountains that flow year-round. Rango was once an important crossroads on the “via Imperiale”, used by merchants, pilgrims and shepherds with their flocks. Balbido lies at the entrance to Val Marcia, which according to tradition was considered a refuge for witches.

Museo della Scuola di Rango

The Museo della Scuola di Rango is located on the ground floor of Rango’s former rectory. The museum consists of two classrooms connected by an entrance corridor. School desks, books, notebooks, teaching charts, pens and pen holders come from private donations. The Museo della Scuola di Rango also preserves photographs, class registers and teachers’ diaries. The collection therefore includes both objects from classroom teaching and personal records from the former school operation.

Murals in Balbido

Balbido has more than 200 murals on the façades of old rural houses; together they form an open-air museum. The motifs include a chimney sweep, the legend of the witches, spring colours and the horse race at the Palio di S. Giustina di Balbido. The murals are spread throughout Balbido and make the façades the carriers of the depicted scenes.

Noce del Bleggio

The Noce del Bleggio is an elongated walnut with a sweet and spicy flavour. It is used for traditional bread, baked goods and savoury dishes. It is recognised as a Slow Food Presidio. In cuisine, the Noce del Bleggio therefore features in both sweet baked goods and savoury preparations.

Trails between Balbido and Rango

The “Sentiero della Noce” begins in Santa Croce and leads via Bivedo and Cavrasto to Balbido.

The “La strada delle streghe” hike is 3.1 km long, takes 1 hour and begins at the car park in Rango. From there, it leads to the village of Le Cross above Balbido. According to tradition, five iron crosses were erected in 1656 in the village of Le Cross above Balbido to keep witches away. At 3.1 km and with a duration of one hour, the trail can be planned as a short section in its own right. This makes it a short hike with a fixed starting point in Rango for day planning.

The “Trekking della Strìa” is a guided hike between Val Marcia, Balbido and Rango. It complements the shorter hike to the village of Le Cross by connecting Val Marcia, Balbido and Rango.

Other places: Ballino, Pietramurata, Fontanazzo, Romeno, Pian, Canazei, Campestrin, Imer

To the main travel overview: Trentino-South Tyrol.