Caldonazzo (, ) is a '' commune'' in

Valsugana The Valsugana (, ) or Sugana Valley is one of the most important valleys in the autonomous province of Trentino in Northern Italy. Leading into the Alps' foothills, an important main north-south Roman road, the Via Claudia Augusta, one of Europ ...

, in

Trentino Trentino (), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento (; ; ), is an Autonomous province#Italy, autonomous province of Italy in the Northern Italy, country's far north. Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the Regions of Italy, region of Tren ...

, northern

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. The nearby Lake of Caldonazzo is the source of the Brenta River.

History

Caldonazzo was first mentioned in historical records in the year 1116. It is located two kilometers from the lake of the same name,

Caldonazzo Lake Lake Caldonazzo () is a lake in Trentino, Italy. At an elevation of 449 m, its surface area is 5.38 km2. It is located in the valley communities of Alta Valsugana e Bersntol. Lake Caldonazzo is the largest lake within the borders of Trentino ...

, picturesquely nestled at the foot of steep mountain forests, where the steep Centa Valley opens into the broader landscape (). The town has a turbulent history, with evidence of Roman settlements. For example, on the "Colle di Tenna," where Roman mule tracks lead to an old "Statio Militaris." Today, a chapel from the 12th century stands at this site. Traces from the time of the

Migration Period The Migration Period ( 300 to 600 AD), also known as the Barbarian Invasions, was a period in European history marked by large-scale migrations that saw the fall of the Western Roman Empire and subsequent settlement of its former territories ...

indicate that the town played a significant role in history on multiple occasions. For a long time, the town belonged to the

Danube Monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...

(see Lordship of Caldonatz). The border with the Kingdom of Italy was only a few kilometers away on the

Folgaria Folgaria (''Fólgaria'' in Trentino Dialect, ''Folgrait'' in Cimbrian) is an Italian municipality with inhabitants in the Autonomous Province of Trento in Trentino-South Tyrol. Folgaria is historically associated with the municipalities of Sa ...

plateau, where numerous bunkers and structures from that era can still be seen today. The best-preserved one is Werk Gschwent, which now houses a museum. The entire

region offers many historically significant sites for those interested in history.

Trapp, an Austrian Noble Family

Between the church and the cemetery stands the old, stately Castel Trapp. Although weathered, the old masonry still clearly displays a fresco of a coat of arms that Austrians will find familiar, as it features the well-known red-white-red shield. The Trapp family, belonging to an old Austrian noble lineage, resided in this castle. In 1461, they left their homeland and their ancestral castle,

Schloss Trautenburg ''Schloss'' (; pl. ''Schlösser''), formerly written ''Schloß'', is the German term for a building similar to a château, palace, or manor house. Related terms appear in several Germanic languages. In the Scandinavian languages, the cognate ...

, near Leutschach in

Styria Styria ( ; ; ; ) is an Austrian Federal states of Austria, state in the southeast of the country. With an area of approximately , Styria is Austria's second largest state, after Lower Austria. It is bordered to the south by Slovenia, and cloc ...

(which still exists today). For over 300 years, until 1794, when the last descendant of the Counts of Trapp died, Caldonazzo was closely associated with this name. Historical accounts describe them as just, benevolent, and capable. The memory of their charitable deeds lived on among the population for a long time.

Parish Church of St. Sixtus

Apart from the old townscape with its picturesque houses away from the center, the church dedicated to Saint Barbara is also noteworthy. Its older section bears the name of Pope Sixtus. Built in the 13th century, it was renovated and remodeled over the years. Its current appearance dates back to 1836, and its style contrasts significantly with the Romanesque church tower. Inside, an old painting depicting Pope Sixtus surrounded by Saints Borromeo, Francis, and Sebastian serves as a reminder of the plague that ravaged Caldonazzo in 1630. The painting dates back to 1632.

Infrastructure

Caldonazzo is located along the Trento–Venice railway line. The town is also accessible via the provincial roads (Strada Provinciale) SP1 and SP113 and is connected to the highway network through the

Strada Statale 47 della Valsugana Various Eateries Trading Limited, trading as Strada, is a chain based in the United Kingdom of branded restaurants specialising in Italian cuisine with two Strada sites and six Coppa Clubs, all in Southern England. History The concept was spa ...

SS47, the

Strada Statale 349 di Val d’Assa e Pedemontana Costo Various Eateries Trading Limited, trading as Strada, is a chain based in the United Kingdom of branded restaurants specialising in Italian cuisine with two Strada sites and six Coppa Clubs, all in Southern England. History The concept was spa ...

, and the

Autostrada A22 The ''autostrade'' (; : ''autostrada'', ) are roads forming the Italy, Italian national system of motorways. The total length of the system is about , as of 30 July 2022. There are also 13 motorway spur routes, which extend for . Most of the ...

References

External links

Official website
Cities and towns in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Municipalities of Trentino {{TrentinoAltoAdige-geo-stub