Centa San Nicolò: Trails, Water and History

Location and settlement history

Centa San Nicolò is located on the western side of Vigolana at an altitude of 833 m. The early development of the settlement can be traced back to a document from 1216. The Prince-Bishop of Trento, Federico Vanga, assigned the mountain between Folgaria and Centa to Urico and Enrico from Bolzano, so that farmsteads could be built on the mountain and the area made fertile and settled. The community of Centa is said to have been provided with a carta di regola as early as 1315.

The historic community of Centa included numerous settlements referred to as masi or frazioni: Tonezzeri, Strada, Conci, Wolfi, Paldaofi, Chiesa, Lambri, Martinelli, Rossi, Uezi, Valle, Doss, Fontani, Sàdleri, Cioli, Pàcheri, Macani, Menegòi, Tiecheri, Frisanchi, Campregheri, Girardi, Gremesi, Pradi, Rauteri and Stauderi.

Hiking trails and starting points

The Trekking del Gusto combines a 4 km-long, partly unpaved hike through chestnut groves with tastings of products from Vigolana. The SAT Trail 442 begins at the S.P. 349 della Fricca near Bar Ristorante Sindech and follows a wooded, steeply ascending route to Rifugio Casarota. From Rifugio Casarota, SAT Trail 442 continues to the ridge between Bècco di Filadonna and Terza Cima.

Rifugio Paludei can be reached via the paved SS della Fricca, slightly above the center of Centa San Nicolò. Another option is an approximately 3 km-long forest road from Malga Doss del Bue at 1,027 m; this forest road is closed to cars. Rifugio Paludei serves as a starting point and rest stop for hikes at lower elevations, walks and cycling routes, as well as for more demanding tours to Rifugio Casarota, Monte Spilech, Becco di Filadonna and the Bivacco “alla Madonnina” with its distinctive rock spire.

From Frisanchi, the highest hamlet of the former municipality of Centa San Nicolò, a forest road leads to SAT Trail 444. The Bivacco Vigolana was rebuilt in 2016 with an innovative design in the shape of an inverted truncated pyramid.

Water landscapes and nature experiences

The Parco fluviale del Torrente Centa preserves and opens up structural remains where the power of the Centa stream once drove mill and sawmill wheels. Developed paths run through the Parco fluviale del Torrente Centa along the Centa stream and are suitable for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Torrente Centa forms small white pebble beaches. The spectacular Valimpach waterfall is also located on the Torrente Centa.

Historic traces and the chestnut-growing tradition

In the village of Campregheri, there are small fortifications from the First World War.

In the Valle del Centa, chestnut cultivation was a valuable and profitable activity for many years. One kilogram of chestnuts was exchanged for one kilogram of flour; 800 fruit trees are still registered in the Valle del Centa today. The Festa della Castagna della Valle del Centa is scheduled to take place on 24 and 25 October 2026 in Centa San Nicolò and is organized by Pro Loco Centa San Nicolò.

More destinations: Vigo Rendena, Molveno, Lago, Panchià, Vigolo Vattaro, Sporminore, Denno, Lomaso

To the higher-level travel overview: Trentino-South Tyrol.