Discover San Lorenzo Dorsino: the scattered village

We are in Trentino, at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites, just a few kilometers from Lake Molveno and the Comano Thermal Baths. Here, time seems to flow slowly, and peace reigns: this is the village of San Lorenzo Dorsino, part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve thanks to its natural treasures. It rises in an essentially untouched mountain area, offering breathtaking views over the Giudicarie Esteriori.

Let’s discover more about this unspoiled landscape!

San Lorenzo Dorsino: a journey into the past among unspoiled natural views

San Lorenzo Dorsino was established as a scattered municipality on January 1, 2015, from the merger of the municipalities of San Lorenzo in Banale and Dorsino, two ancient rural villages that today form two of its hamlets. The territory also includes two other farming villages: Tavodo and Andogno.

San Lorenzo in Banale has been named among The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, thanks to its characteristic stone and wooden houses surrounded by greenery.

A route connects its seven most significant hamlets: Villa di Berghi, Pergnano, Senaso, Dolaso, Prato, Prusa, and Glolo. Although today they form a single district, each once had its own historic center, rural houses, squares, fountains, and small churches.

This extends to the whole of San Lorenzo Dorsino, which preserves many historic houses. For example: Casa Mazoleti in Prusa and Casa Sartorei in Senas, both with distinctive rural architecture; or Casa Martinoni in Berghi, which is said to have once been a convent.

Churches and religious monuments

Religion has always been central to the life of past inhabitants. Notable examples include:

• the Church of San Rocco and Sebastiano in Pergnano and the Church of San Giorgio in Dorsino, where one can admire frescoes by the Baschenis de Averaria, a family of Bergamasque painters who created important works in the Giudicarie Valleys between the 15th and 16th centuries.
• the curaziale Church of San Lorenzo in Prato, deconsecrated in 1911 and later transformed into a municipal theater.
• the parish Church of the Assumption in Tavodo, seat of the ancient Pieve del Banale, where early Christian and medieval structures can be observed.
• in Deggia, the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Caravaggio, which originated from a small chapel dating back to the cholera epidemic of 1855.

Near the Villa of Dolaso stands an 18th-century votive shrine attributed to Marin Cornela, dedicated to the Madonna. Dolaso is also home to many small houses once roofed with straw, including Casa Bosetti, destroyed by fire in 1926 and rebuilt in 1927.

Nature and landscapes

Beyond its ancient buildings, the charm of San Lorenzo Dorsino comes from its natural scenery. The village overlooks the Giudicarie Esteriori and the Brenta Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a popular destination for excursions, such as to Colle Beo, with its panoramic views, or into the Jon Valley. Long-distance trails also pass through here, such as the San Vili Trail, a 100 km route linking Trento to Madonna di Campiglio.

In Nembia lies a WWF Oasis, where visitors can walk among stones and discover local flora and fauna along an educational path. The oasis is located near the small lake of the same name, with crystal-clear waters suitable for swimming in summer.

From the nearby Val d’Ambiéz, one can reach the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, where it is possible to encounter the Brenta bears. The Park launched the Life Ursus reintroduction project to prevent the species’ extinction: today, the population numbers over 50 specimens.

La Ciuìga: a unique traditional sausage in Italy

The culinary specialty of San Lorenzo Dorsino is the Ciuìga del Banale. It is a sausage made with selected pork and Trentino white turnips. A distinctive delicacy with humble origins: it dates back to the second half of the 19th century, when, in times of poverty and meat shortages, pork was mixed with white turnips, which ripen in the fields in autumn.

This is a unique specialty in Italy, which has evolved from a poor dish into a Slow Food protected product. Every year, on the first weekend of November, San Lorenzo in Banale hosts the traditional Sagra della Ciuìga.

Don’t miss the wonders of San Lorenzo Dorsino!

Photo credit: Marzia Piccinelli, dolomiti.it