The Novaline basin among vineyards and historic villas

<p>A walk that starts and ends in <strong>Mattarello</strong>, an important suburb to the south of Trento, developing among orderly vineyards occupying the basin from Novaline and Valsorda up to the edge of the forest.</p>

<p>Mattarello represents the complete evolution of a small village that, despite remaining within the metropolitan area of Trento, has maintained urban autonomy since its origins. The presence of the powerful <strong>Torre Franca</strong> (a 16th-century complex with later alterations, but dating back to the 13th century) testifies to the strategic importance of this place for controlling ancient roadways, being located at the intersection between the Via Claudia Augusta Padana and the connecting road to Via Claudia Augusta Altinate that climbed along the Valsorda towards Vigolo and the Valsugana.</p> <p>From the center of Mattarello, with the beautiful <strong>church of S. Leonardo</strong> and the large <strong>garden</strong> equipped near the civic center, one climbs towards the walled complex of Torre Franca, crossing the oldest part of the settlement. The village was closely linked to the rural economy, so many toponyms (Novaline, Regole, Ronchi, and the forgotten Vallarsa) clearly indicate the agricultural conquest of the territory. Viticulture, then as now, is predominant and wine production was so important for Mattarello that a protectionist control on its trade in the Trento district was established. The presence of the Rio Valsorda also constituted an important element of landscape characterization: along the river there were numerous activities exploiting hydraulic power (mills and bakery, oil mills, workshops, forges) whose memory is marked by the names of the various localities crossed.</p> <p>After the stone bridge crossing the watercourse, you continue towards the <strong>chapel of Sant’Andrea Bellavista</strong> and the Maso Martinelle. Just below the latter, in the locality &#34;Le Val&#34;, a path allows you to cross the stream again to descend to the <strong>Novaline</strong>.</p> <p>Here the landscape changes again to return to the wide terraced vineyards, an inheritance of the extensive noble and ecclesiastical possessions. Once again it is possible to admire the numerous mansions, which also served as agricultural production centers, built during the 17th-18th centuries by the aristocratic families of the city (Villa ex-Sardagna, Villa ex-Saracini, Villa ex-Gentilotti). Along the classic walled streets there are also numerous signs of the sacred (Pietà shrine, Ronchi shrine).</p> <p>On the way back it is possible to make an interesting detour to the <strong>Alpine Fauna Center</strong> “A. Falzolger”, managed by the Trentino Hunters Association, where there is a small visitor center and it is possible to observe up close various wild animals: deer, wild boar piglets, mouflons, chamois, foxes, and many others.</p>