Villa Margon and Trento

 September 27, 2019

From Trieste, I took the train to Verona, where a new friend, Filippo, picked me up and drove me to Ravina di Trento, where my dear friend Lucia is the caretaker of the Villa Margon. I've known Lucia for more than a decade and have visited her in several forested locations, but Villa Margon is the most regal of them all.

Villa Margon

Villa Margon is part of the Cantine Ferrari complex, makers of the renowned Ferrari sparkling wines. Visitors come from all over the world, for the wine-tasting, but also to view the frescoed walls of the villa. 

Frescoed walls are also outside the villa. 

Located outside of Trento, Villa Margon is a sixteenth century villa with more than 500 years of history, beginning with the Council of Trent, when the villa welcomed cardinals and other religious figures from all over Europe, including Emperor Charles V. (Charles V was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain and Lord of the Netherlands).In fact, his exploits are highlighted in one of the fresco cycles that adorn the villa.

 

A few images from the frescoed walls that fill several rooms in the villa. 

In addition to viewing the Villa, I also spent many hours hiking with Lucia, her husband Luciano and their daughter, Marta. At times we were in the chilly fog at Passo Fittanze, or meandering along the Altopiano and other areas of Trentino where there are numerous hiking trails. Marta and Lucia hunted mushrooms, in particular a variety called sanguinelli (saffron milk cap) mushrooms, which Lucia cooked that evening and made sandwiches for our hike the next day. 

Lucia and Luciano hunting mushrooms.

We visited a natural bridge (Ponte di Vieja) and several nearby villages, where we encountered few people but found a great pizzeria. 

Marta and Luciano walking on Ponte di Vieja

During our hikes, we also viewed the devastation caused by Vaia, a monstrous windstorm that blew through the area in October of 2018. Vaia was the largest single windstorm event in recorded history, and hit some of the most beautiful and most productive forests in Italy.  Scirocco winds up to 200 km/hr caused 8 million cubic meters of downed timber, resulting in 41,000 hectares of destroyed forest. 

Marta and Luciano near the ruined trees.

Stacks of timbers lined the trails, waiting to be transported, many of the timbers rotting after a year of sitting in piles. It was heart wrenching to see, another unfortunate casualty of climate change. 

As always, spending time with Lucia and her family was a lovely treat; she is a wonderful friend and gracious host that I am fortunate to know. 

The main piazza in Trento, where high school students were on strike that day. 

During my visit, I stayed at a hotel in Trento, and before leaving the area, I had a chance to view some of the sights in the historic center. 

Soon,  I was off to my next stop, Malcesine and Lago di Garda!