Ala, City of Velvet

Having become famous in the 18th century for its production of silk velvets, Ala retains a Baroque atmosphere. The pride of the city is its historical center, ranked among Trentino’s most beautiful, and its Antique Piano Museum.

In 2007 Ala, which in the 18th Century was renamed “City of Velvet“, was awarded with the Orange Flag by the Touring Club Italiano. During the Summer, its historic city center, one of Trentino’s best-preserved, comes alive thanks to the “Ala Città di Velluto” event. Squares, buildings and gardens open up with shows of art, music and poetry. If you want to re-live the splendor of the 18th Century, we suggest participating in a guided tour with costumed characters.

You will find a prestigious collection of period piece pianos of Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and Chopin at the Antique Piano Museum, in the elegant halls of Palazzo De’ Pizzini. Soon, at Palazzo Taddei, today in the restoration phase, the Provincial Textiles Museum will open.

In a dominant position over the historic center, you can see the Church of St. Maria Assunta, of very ancient origins. North of the city, along the path that runs along the ancient “Roman road”, stands the majestic San Valentino sanctuary, an ancient place of worship. Just a few kilometers from Ala, along the state road that leads to Verona, you will find the ancient Romanesque church of San Pietro in Bosco.

Atop the high plains of the Lessinia you can practice Nordic walking, pedaling mountain bikes or walking among the Alpine huts with the characteristic stone roofs. Valle dei Ronchi is the departure point for excursions along the Piccole Dolomiti.