Culture, History and Traditions

Along the Dolomiti di Brenta Bike route, either family (along cycle paths at the valley floor) or expert (single tracks and forest roads) you will encounter traditional architecture, history, culture elements. Even the fastest biker will not miss noticing them!

Culture:

Iron located in Ragoli is a perfectly preserved quaint medieval village. Unlike during the medieval period, today it is inhabited only in the summertime. The plague of the year 1348, which is also mentioned in the Decameron, caused the first villagers to leave and then in 1630 another plague depopulated the whole town. To this day the houses have maintained their typical medieval alpine structural agglomeration.

Below the village remains the ancient well that at one time served the whole community. The small church is dedicated to St. Giacomo and used to be managed by the Stefani family of Tione whose coat of arms bears the image of a heron. Near Tione is the church of St. Vigilio where there remain still some graves of those who died during the plague.

Reaching the village is easy: deviate slightly from the Dolomiti di Brenta Bike route before reaching Lisiano and after the village of Ragioli and climb up the short but very steep hill.

In Tione it is worth having a look at the plaques representing historical events fixed to the facades of some buildings. Those on the town hall recall the arrival of Gattamelata in the village in 1438; another commemorates those who died in the wars; while others represent the distruction of Dazio di Tempesta in 1768 and the beheading of the leaders of the revolt in 1772.

The plaque on the outside of the Cassa di Risparmio bank building recalls the executions in the year 1809, the one in piazza Boni recalls the arrival of the French in 1848 and in via del Foro it commemorates the war of the walnuts.

History:

The Giudicarie district has Longobard origins and the name comes from the Latin word "Judicaria" which means territory administrated by a judge and refers to the ancient Longobard districts located along the belt of pre-alpine lakes as defensive barrier against the people from the North.
Another theory is that the name Giudicarie stands for a district governed by the Bishop of Trento with the help of a vicar.

The Giudicarie area comprises the municipalities of Tione, Bolbeno and Zuclo on the right of the Sarca river and Preore, Montagne and Ragoli on the left bank.

For centuries the Giudicarie used to be the border between Tione Parish and the Bleggio Parish. During the sovereignty of the bishop, the parishes were political and administrative clusters into which the Giudicarie area was divided. The municipalities of Bolbeno and Zuclo were for four centuries, instead, directly governed by the city of Verona while the remaining territory was subordinate to the Bishop of Trento.

Only after 1813, when Trentino was annexed to Austria, the area became a single district under the sovereignty of Tione.

Traditions:

First of all are the many town festivals that follow one another throughout the year, organised around the feast day of the patron saint of each particular village.

For example, St. Vittore played an important role for Tione, St. Martino for Zucolo, St. Maddalena for Priore.
There are also other events that have become part of our history, like the Giudicariese Carnival, records of which date back to 1887, and the Preore and Ragoli Carnival with their own stories and traditions.

Recently, new events have been organised to rediscover the local traditions: Iron, the ghost village, Gourmet Mountains or the Mountain Eco-Trade fair.
The typical Valli Giudicarie delicacies are produced in an unspoiled natural environment by family run organic businesses.

The most famous are: "La Spressa", a typical mature cheese prepared with unprocessed milk; trout and char, two varieties of fish with firm meat and intense taste; small fruits and potatoes cultivated in the Giudicarie mountain fields; the Saone salami.