The Altopiano della Vigolana is the kind of place where you breathe a little slower after just a few minutes. It is a green balcony halfway between the city and the mountains, made of meadows, woods and quiet villages like Vigolo Vattaro, Vattaro, Bosentino and Centa San Nicolò, with the Vigolana massif watching from above and the Valsugana lakes glinting down below. In this guide we tell you what to do on the plateau and what to see nearby, based only on places we know and that are truly worth visiting. We at Italy Holiday have welcomed guests in this area for a long time, and this is the itinerary we would suggest to a friend.
What to see and do on the Vigolana
The best thing about the plateau is its location. From here you are minutes away from the woods and the viewpoints, you can drop down to the Valsugana lakes in no time, climb up toward the mountains and reach Trento with ease. Here are the places we recommend, from the nearest green spaces to the city.
1. Bosco della Città, the green park overlooking the valley
A short distance from the plateau, on the hill of the Dosso di San Rocco, you will find the Bosco della Città, a large park set in a wood of downy oak, ash and hornbeam. It is a wide green area, crossed by a network of comfortable paths, with benches, fountains and viewpoints from which your gaze runs over the Adige Valley on one side and the Vigolana group itself on the other.
It is the right place for a peaceful walk, suitable for everyone, children included. A main loop and several side paths wind through the trees, with an arboretum of plants from faraway continents. It is lovely all year, even more so from spring to autumn. You reach it in a few minutes by car, climbing toward the Dosso di San Rocco.
2. Dosso di San Rocco, the panoramic hill above Trento
The Dosso di San Rocco is one of the three hills that have ringed Trento for centuries, the same ones that gave its name to the Roman city of Tridentum. It is a wooded rise climbing to about 460 metres, today a wide park with shady trails and open viewpoints over the city and the valley.
Climbing up here is a simple way to enjoy the view from above without a real hike: the paths are gentle and well kept. Along the hill you also find a small hilltop chapel and quiet corners to pause. It is a green spot all year, perfect to pair with a walk in the Bosco della Città.
3. Dosso di Sant'Agata, an easy walk with a view
Another of Trento's three hills is the Dosso di Sant'Agata, a wooded rise east of the city crowned by the little church of Sant'Agata. On the sunny southern side there are farmed terraces, while the rest of the hill is wrapped in quiet woods.
It is an easy walk of a few dozen minutes, rewarded with a wide panorama over the Adige Valley and Monte Bondone. It is the ideal half-day trip when you want to move without tiring yourself and come back with a few good photos. You reach it from around Trento along the marked paths that climb the hill.
4. Lago di Caldonazzo, the warm lake at the foot of the plateau
Coming down from the plateau toward the Valsugana, in a few minutes you reach the Lago di Caldonazzo, a large body of water set in the green. Its most loved feature is the temperature: it is one of southern Europe's warmest lakes, with water near 24 degrees in summer, perfect for relaxed swims and whole days on the beach with the family.
Its shores are awarded the Blue Flag, and the water is not only for swimming: here you can sail, paddle a SUP or canoe, and even water-ski. The swimming season runs roughly from May to September. From the plateau you reach it quickly by car, the perfect way to combine the mountains and a day on the water.
5. Lago di Levico, a fjord in the heart of the Valsugana
Just beyond Caldonazzo, near Levico Terme, the Lago di Levico awaits. It has a long, distinctive shape that recalls a fjord, ringed by wooded hills. It is one of Trentino's Blue Flag lakes: its waters are among the mildest in the area and its shores are gentle, perfect for swimming, walking and cycling with the family.
Here you find tree-lined free beaches, swim areas and easy paths that run close to the water. As with Caldonazzo, the ideal season runs from late spring to early autumn, with swimming roughly from May to September. You reach it in a few minutes from the plateau, or on foot from the centre of Levico Terme.
6. Lago di Lavarone, clear water among the mountain woods
If instead you want to climb higher, the Lago di Lavarone is a perfect destination. It is a small mountain lake with clear water, of karstic origin, on the Lavarone plateau at about 1,080 metres. It is ringed by woods and has two equipped beaches and an easy path along its shores.
Here too the waters carry the Blue Flag and are swimmable in summer. Between easy walks and pedal boats, it is an ideal destination for families looking for fresh air and quiet. The best period runs from June to early September, when the beach services are open. From the Altopiano della Vigolana you reach it by car along the roads that climb toward the Alpe Cimbra.
7. Orrido di Ponte Alto, a spectacular gorge near Trento
For those after something different, the Orrido di Ponte Alto is a surprise just minutes from the city. It is a narrow, deep gorge carved by the Fersina stream, with waterfalls over forty metres high and old stone dams that have protected Trento from floods for centuries.
The visit is made with a guide, along metal walkways and a spiral staircase, among red rocks and spray. It is an atmospheric place, where nature and human ingenuity meet. Since it is a guided experience, it is best to check times and bookings on the official website before you go. You reach it by car in a few minutes from Trento.
8. Trento, the city of art at the foot of the mountains
A few minutes from the plateau lies Trento, the capital of Trentino and a compact city of art, a pleasure to explore on foot. Its heart is Piazza del Duomo, with the Cathedral of San Vigilio and the elegant Neptune Fountain, framed by Renaissance palaces with frescoed facades.
Not to be missed are the Castello del Buonconsiglio, the ancient residence of the prince-bishops, and the MUSE, the science museum designed by the architect Renzo Piano, ideal for families. Trento is a year-round destination that brings together history, culture and the backdrop of the mountains. From the plateau you reach it quickly by car, and it is perfect for a day away from nature.
A practical tip before you set off
Many of these places change their hours and services with the season, and some, like the Orrido di Ponte Alto, can only be visited with a guide and by booking. Before planning your day, check the up-to-date times on the official websites, so you avoid surprises and always arrive at the right moment.
Where to stay on the Altopiano della Vigolana
The best way to experience the plateau is to have a home of your own among the meadows and woods, to come back to in the evening after a walk or a day by the lake. With Italy Holiday you find well-kept stays on the Altopiano della Vigolana, designed for families and travellers who want quiet, good air and the mountains within reach.
Discover where to stay on the Altopiano della Vigolana and book your stay with Italy Holiday: your ideal base among the trails, the views and the lakes of the Valsugana.
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