Val di Sole, what to do and see
In the north‑western heart of Trentino, crossed by the River Noce, Val di Sole is one of the region’s greenest valleys, able to offer different experiences in every season. Here, between the Adamello‑Presanella and Ortles‑Cevedale mountains, the Adamello Brenta Nature Park meets the Stelvio National Park, in an extraordinary landscape of forests, glaciers, and over 100 alpine lakes to explore on foot or by bike. Val di Sole is also a land with a millennia‑old history: Celts, Romans, Franks, and Austro‑Hungarians left their mark in rustic buildings, forts, and castles to visit, while the peaks of the Adamello and the local museums preserve the memory of the White War. An identity that lives on today through local traditions, genuine flavours, and thermal well‑being.
Not to be missed
A valley of unspoilt nature and millennia‑old history, between natural parks, forts, and local traditions.
What to see in Val di Sole? Unspoilt nature.
Val di Sole is located in the north‑western part of Trentino and is crossed from west to east by the River Noce. Considered one of the greenest and wildest valleys in Trentino, it covers an area of 610 km² and has about 15,000 inhabitants. The Solandro territory is dominated by glaciers and majestic peaks such as the Adamello, Presanella, and Ortles‑Cevedale mountains. Here, the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, which includes the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meets the Stelvio National Park, home to numerous animal species including bears, deer, chamois, hares, marmots, stoats, golden eagles, and bearded vultures.
Water, the star of both sport and wellness.
Val di Sole is crossed by the River Noce, ranked by the National Geographic Society as one the world’s top 10 rivers for rafting, an adrenaline‑filled sport suitable for everyone, to try in one of the many centres throughout the valley. The Noce is fed by the Vermigliana, Meledrio, and Rabbies streams, which often form waterfalls. The valley also has more than 100 alpine lakes, mostly nestled within the Ortles‑Cevedale group between the Rabbi and Pejo valleys: perfect destinations for walks and hikes on foot or by MTB. Here, water also means relaxation and well-being: the Pejo and Rabbi hot springs, known since ancient times for their therapeutic properties, combine the healing qualities of thermal waters with the charm of the alpine landscape.
The history of Val di Sole: peoples, wars, and traditions
Val di Sole preserves a millennia‑old history. Celts, Romans, Franks, and Austro‑Hungarians left traces of their passage in villages, forts, castles, churches, and ancient rural buildings, still visitable today and able to tell the story of the valley’s evolution. A crucial chapter was the First World War, when on the peaks of the Adamello the Italian and Austro‑Hungarian troops fought over summits and glaciers in what went down in history as the "White War": museums and fortifications preserve the memory of those high‑altitude battles. This heritage still lives on today in the work of blacksmiths, carpenters, and ceramists, and in the authentic flavours of the region (cold cuts, cheeses, wines, and fruit), the expression of a culture deeply connected to its mountains.