History
Valsugana is incredibly rich in history and culture. It is not just the remains of Austro-Hungarian fortresses, telling us about the Great War, but ever since ancient times, the Valley has been a passageway that united different people and cultures. There is the ancient roman way Claudia Augusta Altinate that connected Altino near Venice with Augusta Vindelicum, now the city of Augsburg in Germany, that leads across Valsugana.It is really worth it to wander through the ancient villages, with their enchanting views on the past, discovering delightful little churches and fascinating castles.The villages are embellished by high-class residences, Renaissance quarters, such as the Magnificent Trapp Court in Caldonazzo and the patrician houses in Maier street in Pergine. Real architectural gems are the ancient churches of Saint Blaise in Levico Terme with its fine fresco''s, the Roman-Gothic church of Saint Hermes in Calceranica, that arose on a temple of Diana, the small church of Saint Valentine on the hill of Tenna and the parish church of Saint Peter and Paul of Roncegno, that preserves a precious altar-piece of Francesco Guardi.Definitely worth a visit are the Imperial Grand Hotel Terme in Levico Terme with its enchanting position in the historical park of the thermal baths, Terme in Levico, with its enchanting position in the historical park of the thermal baths, favourite destination of Francis Joseph and his wife Sissi, and the Palace Hotelin Roncegno. Both preserve all the elegance and style of the "belle époque", when they used to welcome noble guests from all of Europe to Valsugana to "do some dipping".
During the First World War the whole area was a battle-ground, as evidencd by the Austro-Hungarian fortress that were part of the fortified defence line built by Austro-Hungarian from 1907 on, expecting the war against Italy: on the hill of Tenna and of the Benne stand two fortresses that can be visited the whole year round.Near the Vezzena pass stands the fort Busa Verle, and higher up the above mentioned Fort of Cima Vezzena an observatory called the Eye of the Plateau'', built in a strategic position in a sheer drop from the rock.
But it''s the castels that are the most evident testimony of the age-old history of Valsugana.They stand in a strategic position that dominates the valley such as the imposing Castle Ivano venue of international exhibitions and the turreted Castle Pergine on the hill of the Tegazzo (also used as hotel and restaurant), It is a magic place for meetings, with its ancient ambience and contemporary creativity thanks to the prestigious exhibitions that it houses. A Gothic building from the XV century, it owes its current look to the modifications of the prince-bishops in XVI and XVII century. The whole building comprises castle walls, one built inside the other, that surround the garden at the inside. The main building contains fascinating rooms, rich in history and atmosphere, like the Hall of Arms, the Chapel of Saint Andrew, the Throne Room and the Prison of the ''drop''