Mezzano Romantica

About three hundred towns with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants have managed to enter the list compiled by the club of “I Borghi più belli d’Italia” (tr. The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy), of which Mezzano is a proud member. The small picturesque village, with just over 1,600 inhabitants, is characterized by rural architecture that can offer a range of views that, taken together, make it rather unique. The tour presented here is a tourist walk that travels along the “cánisèle” (narrow streets) of the central area of Mezzano. The walk / visit of the village takes place in what can be described as a small open-air museum, developed by the Municipality of Mezzano around four main themes: Woodpiles (“Catáste e Canzèi”), Gardens (“Orti”), Water (“Acqua”), and Architecture (“Architettura”). 

The first theme, “Cataste e Canzèi”, becomes evident when one begins to catch a glimpse of the many artistic works created by taking inspiration from the silhouettes and order of traditional woodpiles, historically set aside for winter heating. The theme of Water, also relevant, is supported by both the presence of typical hexagonal fountains and that of the “stóli”; small tunnels (alternatives to the better-known wells) that can still be visited today and were used for water supply. As for the Architecture theme, there are many houses in the center of Mezzano that feature traditional architecture, perfectly maintained over the centuries; among the buildings are the “Casa degli Usseri” probably built by a wealthy man of Magyar origin, the “Canton Grisón” with the Tabernacle of St. George (patron of Mezzano), “Casa Còsner”, “Casa Lotti” and the “Brusade Houses.”

The tour suggested here traces the first version of the “Mezzano Romantica” tourist route; for this reason it is advisable to refer to the Website http://mezzanoromantica.it, since the “Cataste e Canzèi” project turns out to be in continuous expansion and new artistic stacks are added creating new possible variants to the main itinerary.

The starting point of the tour is by the square named Piazza Brólo, recently restored in a contemporary style and the headquarters of the local tourist company. Climbing along the first “canisèle” the walk gets immersed in the rural, ancient and well preserved environment. The advice is to follow the indicated route by grasping the details and continuous works present along the center of the village.

Notable among the many works is the mural dedicated to the historic flood that occurred in 1966. Regarding the architectures and their details, we point out the “Arco dei Micieli”, a block of flats datable to the last decades of the 1500s, introducing a Venetian style of architecture, which can be seen in the shape of the courtyard, the entrance arch and the masonry parapet; the “Stòli”, narrow underground tunnels built to convey water from the springs surrounding the village, so as to provide fountains, drinking troughs and the first aqueducts in the village; the “Tabià del Rico”, an ancient barn that has been properly restored, where it is possible to view ancient work tools, household objects, costumes and trousseaus; the historic “Lisiera dei Còsneri”, the only one in all of Trentino to be protected by the Accademia delle Belle Arti (well-known national academy), used by housewives in the past to do laundry, which today, punctually restored, still contains three “calgere” (typical copper boilers) and hosts small events and presentations.

Paths

• From the Hall of Mezzano, visit the village by following the “Cataste e Canzei” signposts [0h 45]. ✓