Varena: Circular Trails, Forest and Historic Frescoes

Forest Trails and Viewpoints

Varena can be explored via trails with different focuses. The Sentiero naturalistico di Varena runs above the village and climbs to the area of the lower slopes of Cucal. The Bosco resiliente della tempesta Vaia circular trail allows hikers and visitors to experience a forest damaged by Storm Vaia at close range and observe its development. The Bosco resiliente della tempesta Vaia circular trail connects sections of the old Trozo vecio mule track and the Sentiero delle Trincee. A mule track is a historic path traditionally used to transport goods with pack animals.

The Il ciliegio ed il crocifisso di Varena circular trail leads to a viewpoint. From this viewpoint, you can look down on Varena and see the Lagorai range. A large wooden cross stands behind the bench at the viewpoint. The Palù locality along the Il ciliegio ed il crocifisso di Varena circular trail is considered particularly humid and valuable in terms of its flora and vegetation.

A Circular Trail for Late Evening

The Giro dei prati di Varena circular trail can also be walked in the late evening or at night. Its innovative ground lighting is considered non-intrusive for observing the sky.

Presepio and Ecclesiastical History

The Presepio di Varena follows a 700-metre-long route featuring scenes such as a water mill, a bakery, grain threshing, a pottery, a dye works, a tinsmith's workshop and a wooden-shoemaker's workshop. The scenes depict activities that have disappeared but once flourished. According to the municipality, the idea for the Presepio di Varena originated in 1989 as a nativity scene departing from the usual traditions.

The oldest church of the Chiesa parrocchiale dei Santi Pietro e Paolo dates from 1193; the building was subsequently rebuilt and expanded until 1882. The Chiesa parrocchiale dei Santi Pietro e Paolo preserves significant 15th-century frescoes. These include a depiction of the Last Supper and an Adoration of the Magi. Frescoes are murals painted on fresh plaster. Large stone buttresses support the Chiesa parrocchiale dei Santi Pietro e Paolo and are considered a unique example among the old churches of the Fiemme Valley.

During a walk through Varena, you can admire the village's characteristic monolithic porphyry fountains. Monolithic means that a fountain is carved from a single block of stone; porphyry is a volcanic rock.

Getting There by Bus

Varena can be reached from Cavalese and Predazzo by public buses operated by Trentino Trasporti, as well as by ski bus.

If you would like to include places other than Varena, you can also find Ton, Pomarolo, Siror, Sfruz, Campodenno, Tenna, Vigo Rendena and Romeno.

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