L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano D iscovering lit- t l e - k n o w n g e m s i n m y o w n c o u n t r y has become a b i t o f a h o b b y : I ' v e b e e n making a list, and I am plan- ning to start visiting them this spring. First of all, trav- eling is fun, and then... who knows, they may be pretty e n o u g h t o d e c i d e t o s t a y , provided I can find a place my three cats like. D u r i n g t h e h o l i d a y s I came across Borgo Valsug- ana, which is a village of about 7,000 in one of my f a v o r i t e r e g i o n s o f I t a l y , Trentino-Alto Adige — nothing is more beautiful than the Alps for me. Locat- ed some 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Trento, the nearest large city, Borgo Val- sugana is one of I Borghi più Belli d'Italia, which tells us this isn't just a pretty place, but also that its community works hard to preserve its history and heritage alive. T h e n a m e a n d history of Borgo Valsugana offer a fascinating glimpse into its past: the "Valsugana" in its name is derived from t h e L a t i n V a l l i s A u s u g - anea, or "valley of Ausug- um. " The ter m Ausugum , which became the name of the village, was Roman but possibly originated from the non-Roman Venetic-Rhaet- ian residents, the primary i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e v a l l e y i t s e l f . L a t e r , i t e v o l v e d to Burgum Ausugi, incorpo- rating Burgum from the Ger- m a n i c " b u r g s , " m e a n i n g "raised fortified place." Historically, the village's strategic location between V e n e t o a n d T r e n t i n o endowed it with significant p o l i t i c a l , a n d e c o n o m i c importance, with the area seeing its first stable settle- ments during the late Bronze A g e , p r e d o m i n a n t l y — a s mentioned — by Rhaetian and Venetic populations. The Romanization of the region likely occurred in the 1st cen- tury AD when it was annexed to the Municipium of Feltria in the X Region. The con- struction of the Via Claudia Augusta Altinate, a major road connecting Altino (near p r e s e n t - d a y V e n i c e ) t o Augusta (in Bavaria), signifi- cantly influenced the devel- opment of new settlements in the valley and boosted the town's economic growth. Throughout the 14th cen- tury, Valsugana was a con- tentious area between the counts of Tyrol and various Venetian cities, changing hands multiple times. The valley briefly became part of t h e R e p u b l i c o f V e n i c e b e t w e e n 1 4 1 0 a n d 1 4 1 3 b e f o r e u l t i m a t e l y f a l l i n g under the direct rule of Tyrol a n d t h e H o l y R o m a n E m p i r e . T h e N a p o l e o n i c campaigns in 1796 marked the end of a prolonged peri- o d o f t r a n q u i l i t y , w i t h Napoleon Bonaparte himself staying in Borgo with 15,000 men before defeating the A u s t r i a n s a t B a s s a n o d e l Grappa. A devastating fire in 1862 destroyed a large part of Borgo, leaving approxi- mately 1,670 people home- less. The reconstructed area i n c l u d e d a w i d e s t r e e t named Via Fratelli in honor o f t h o s e w h o g e n e r o u s l y aided the town's recovery. W i t h t h e o u t b r e a k o f World War I in 1915, Val- sugana found itself on the front line: for months, the area was no man's land, and in the following year, resi- dents were forced to evacu- ate, either toward Austria or Italy. The Lower Valsugana suffered tremendously, with a b o u t a t h i r d o f B o r g o ' s buildings destroyed and the remaining two-thirds signifi- cantly damaged. After the w a r , i n N o v e m b e r 1 9 1 8 , Borgo, along with the rest of Trentino, South Tyrol, and t h e A m p e z z o r e g i o n , w a s annexed to Italy. Now, after all this history, you are probably curious to know why Borgo Valsug- ana is known as La Picco- l a V e n e z i a d e l T r e n t i n o o r " T h e L i t t l e Venice of Trentino." Well, it's all because of its unique u r b a n a n d n a t u r a l l a n d - scapes: the town is situated i n a b e n d o f t h e B r e n t a River, between Levico and Primolano, and is the only place in Trentino where the river traverses through it. This setting creates a pic- turesque scene reminiscent of Venice, especially with the classic façades of buildings along Corso Ausugum con- trasting with the more color- ful and varied Venetian-style rear facades facing the river. The historic center of Borgo Valsugana is a blend o f m e d i e v a l s t r e e t s a n d architecture enriched with Baroque and Renaissance e l e m e n t s : t h e V e n e t i a n Bridge, dating back to the 1 4 0 0 s , i s a n o t a b l e l a n d - mark, connecting the old and new parts of the town. Visi- t o r s c a n a l s o e x p l o r e t h e path of the castles, the Per- manent Exhibition of the Great War, beautiful church- es, and then relax for a caffè in Alcide De Gasperi Square, a popular meeting spot for both tourists and locals. For nature enthusiasts, Borgo Valsugana offers plen- ty of outdoor activities, especially if you are into hik- ing, walking, or bike riding. For instance, you could take up the 80 km long Via del Brenta bike path, which e x t e n d s a l l t h e w a y t o V e n i c e , w e a v i n g t h r o u g h stunning landscapes and cul- tural sites. I f , b e s i d e s n a t u r e , y o u also love art, then you should definitely check out Arte Sella, an event combining artistic production with the b e a u t y o f t h e l o c a l l a n d - scape: this open-air art exhi- bition features works made entirely of natural elements and is set in a unique envi- ronment bounded by Mount Armentera and Cima Dodici. Arte Sella is considered both an art gallery and an impor- tant part of the Great Ital- ian Gardens network and has attracted more than 300 artists since its inception. After all this walking and visiting, you will likely need good food to replenish your energies, but rest assured, local cuisine won't leave you disappointed. The food here reflects the area's rich cultur- al history and alpine envi- ronment, blending Italian and Central European influ- ences to create a unique gas- tronomic experience. One of B o r g o V a l s u g a n a ' s m o s t notable specialties is Carne Salada, a type of cured beef similar to corned beef. This delicacy is traditionally made from the topside or magatel- l o o f a d u l t c o w s a n d i s e n j o y e d b o t h r a w a n d cooked. It has been a staple in the region since at least the 15th century, often found i n r e c i p e s o r s e r v e d a s a carpaccio. Cheese is also a highlight of the region, with Puzzone di Moena DOP being par- ticularly notable. This semi- h a r d c o w ' s m i l k c h e e s e , known for its intense aroma and flavor that ranges from sweet to spicy, is a product of t h e D o l o m i t e s a r e a . I n Trentino, dishes like caned- erli, bread dumplings fla- v o r e d w i t h s p e c k o r p a n c e t t a , a n d s t r a n g o - l a p r e t i , p o t a t o - s p i n a c h g n o c c h i , a r e s t a p l e s ; t h e region's barley soup, a hearty dish with pearl barley, veg- etables, and smoked pork, is perfect for Alpine winters. F o r d e s s e r t s , t h e local strudel , filled with cooked apples, raisins, and c i n n a m o n , i s a m u s t - t r y . A n o t h e r p o p u l a r s w e e t is kaiserschmarren, known a s t h e " E m p e r o r ' s s w e e t omelet," a fluffy shredded pancake. Borgo Valsugana, the Little Venice of Trentino FRANCESCA BEZZONE A sunny day in Borgo Valsugana (Photo: Mario Ascione/Dreamstime) ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

• Cover