Holiday apartment in Bolbeno: mountains, culture and winter experiences

Bolbeno combines a green plateau at the foot of Monte Piza with historic traces, mountain trails and winter activities. A walk through the old centre, paths through forests and valleys, winter sports in the surrounding area and Capùs as a Trentino speciality shape the possible days spent here.

Holiday apartment in Bolbeno amid village history and mountain scenery

Bolbeno’s historic centre is called Carère. It forms a quadrilateral with symmetrical streets, gardens, passageways and lanes leading to squares with granite fountains typical of the Giudicarie area. Historic houses preserve wooden arcades, portals and windows with granite surrounds. Among the old walls are arched gateways, faded sacred murals and signs from former inns.

The Church of San Zeno also gives the village a historical dimension. It has medieval origins and was first documented in 1529. From 1857 onwards, it was completely rebuilt in the neoclassical style and solemnly consecrated in 1862. Its interior is characterised by three naves, shallow side chapels and a slightly raised presbytery area.

Trails to the Santuario Madonna del Lares and Malga Meda

A walk from the village centre to the Santuario Madonna del Lares takes about 30 minutes. The trail climbs through the forest and reaches the Canzane wayside shrine after approximately 2 kilometres. From the wayside cross at Canzane, a 3-kilometre forest road leads in about 50 minutes to Malga Splaz, also known as Malga Bassa, at an altitude of 1,200 metres. An easy trail through Val Larga leads from the end of the forest road behind Malga Splaz to the higher-elevation Malga Meda in about an hour.

Malga Meda is equipped as a bivouac with a fireplace, wood-burning stove and two rooms. At the Dos Borel viewpoint stands a beech tree several centuries old, at least 500 years old. Bolbeno also offers an almost complete panoramic view of the Busa di Tione. The Tione–Le Sole–M.ga Cengledino–M.ga Lodranega–Val di Breguzzo–Bondo–Madonna del Làres–Bolbeno–Tione mountain-bike route also passes through Bolbeno after the Santuario Madonna del Làres.

Winter sports and winter activities

The Centro Sci in Borgo Lares offers an easy blue ski run and an intermediate red ski run. Both are accessible via the Pianezze four-seater chairlift and the Coste ski lift. Night skiing is also available in the Bolbeno ski area. Bolbenolandia is a winter playground with two magic carpets that make it easier for children to have their first experiences on skis.

Bolbenolandia has a magic carpet for beginners and offers activities with bobsleighs and sledges. In the Bolbeno ski area, downhill skis and ski boots, snowshoes, sledges and tubes can be rented. CiaspoLares is a recurring night snowshoe hike through the forests above Bolbeno, passing by the Santuario Madonna del Lares.

Capùs and Not(t)e di Note in August

Capùs de Bolbeno is a Trentino speciality consisting of dumplings wrapped in strawberry-grape leaves. During Not(t)e di Note, held in August, dozens of women prepare large quantities of Capùs according to an old recipe. The event has taken place in Bolbeno for more than twenty years on the Saturday before Ferragosto, that is, in mid-August.

If you would like to consider destinations beyond Bolbeno: San Michele All'adige, Bieno, Montesover, Garniga Terme, Carano, Vason, Denno, Tesero.

For the higher-level travel overview: Trentino.