Holiday apartment in Sant'Orsola: nature, culture and regional delicacies

Sant'Orsola Terme combines nature, local history and regional agriculture. The town offers a variety of specific places to explore: trails, water, historic buildings, an educational farm and products from pastures and forest fruits.

Museum, church and sawmill: local history in Sant'Orsola

The Museo Pietra Viva presents the mineralogy and ethnography of the Sant'Orsola Terme area and the Fersina Valley. It is located in the former seat of the municipality of Sant'Orsola Terme. The building dates from the 17th century; the folk painter Pietro Albertini from Lavis decorated it with natural paints.

The church of Sant'Orsola in Sant'Orsola Terme is first mentioned in 1532. The Segheria Sant'Orsola was one of the last sawmills operating in Trentino and continued working until the 1980s. The sawmill was also connected to a mill and a blacksmith's workshop. Visitors interested in culture will find the Museo Pietra Viva, the church of Sant'Orsola and the Segheria Sant'Orsola in Sant'Orsola.

Two entrances to the Museo Pietra Viva

The Museo Pietra Viva has two entrances. The first is in the garden and has a ramp. The second leads through the main façade and is accessible only via stairs. When preparing for a museum visit, you can therefore distinguish between the garden entrance and the entrance through the main façade.

Trails, water and an educational farm

Sant'Orsola Terme has numerous trails that can be explored on foot or by mountain bike. One specific example is the Masi Alti circular trail. It starts in the main square of Sant'Orsola Terme and, from Gheghe, follows Bike Trail 2398. When planning a circular route on foot or by mountain bike, the starting point in the main square can be included; Gheghe and Bike Trail 2398 mark the rest of the route.

The Cascata di Val Pegara is located near the mouth of Val Pegara, where it meets the Torrente Fersina, and is a waterfall approximately 30 metres high. From Sant'Orsola, it can be reached near the church via a paved road that runs along the right bank of the Torrente Fersina. To find the way to the waterfall, the road along the right bank and the church can serve as specific reference points.

Agritur La Gemma is also one of the specific destinations in Sant'Orsola: the educational farm is intended for children and teenagers as well as the youngest visitors.

Pastures, cheese and forest fruits from Sant'Orsola

More than 60 cows graze freely every summer on the pastures of Malga Cambroncoi. The malga produces raw-milk cheese, ricotta, Tosella and Caciotte, which are offered at the agriturismo together with traditional regional dishes. The malga brings pasture farming, cheese production and regional cuisine together in one place.

Sant'Orsola Terme is also known for cultivating forest fruits such as strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. These local berries are available in the shops of Sant'Orsola. They are joined by mountain-flower honey – from acacia to rhododendron –, flavoured grappas and herbal infusions.

Further places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare Sant'Orsola with other destinations, also discover Norge, Pomarolo, Darè, Vigo Di Fassa, Vezzano, Vason, Stilfs and Pian.

For the higher-level travel overview: Trentino.