There is no shortage of excellent museums to choose from in Italy, as is patently obvious. Whether you’re heading to the Vatican City, which is essentially one giant museum-state, to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, to Venice, home to the Biennale, which remains one of the world’s most important contemporary art exhibitions, and much more besides, there are plenty of options. However, while the famous and large museums filled with renowned names and works of art are undoubtedly important and worth seeing, we are big fans of the more obscure hidden gems that are dotted around the country. If you have found a vacation rental in Trentino, for example, you might want to check out a rather special museum indeed: an outdoor museum located across a beautiful forested alpine area.
In the Val di Sella, a pretty little valley located in the the Valsugana region of Trentino, a half hour from Trento, you will find the Arte Sella an open-air museum that is home to around 58 works of art dotted along a trail through the woods of Val di Sella. Tracing its roots back to 1986, when local artists began exhibiting their art in this area, the one-off event then became a biannual event and, finally, in 1996 became a permanent fixture in the area. The works are all created using natural materials that are found in the area – with twigs, branches, logs, rocks, and leaves being some of the most common materials that are used – and are sometimes interwoven with living plants and trees, allowing them to change, grow, and take on a life of their own. Works are also set up to make the most of their surroundings, frame views, and live in harmony with this lovely part of the world.
In the Val di Sella, a pretty little valley located in the the Valsugana region of Trentino, a half hour from Trento, you will find the Arte Sella an open-air museum that is home to around 58 works of art dotted along a trail through the woods of Val di Sella. Tracing its roots back to 1986, when local artists began exhibiting their art in this area, the one-off event then became a biannual event and, finally, in 1996 became a permanent fixture in the area. The works are all created using natural materials that are found in the area – with twigs, branches, logs, rocks, and leaves being some of the most common materials that are used – and are sometimes interwoven with living plants and trees, allowing them to change, grow, and take on a life of their own. Works are also set up to make the most of their surroundings, frame views, and live in harmony with this lovely part of the world.
Works often change but that is part of the fun, you never know what you are going to find! Like the forest area that houses the museum, it is a living, breathing thing, that is ever-changing, and tied to the land. There are two paths to follow throughout the “museum”, the first can be entered for free and is the first trail that was established back in 1986. Called the ArteNatura Path, it stretches two kilometres to the Strobela bridge over the Moggio Stream, on the south slope of Mount Armentera. Then, there is a second, more recent path called the Malga Costa Path, that requires paying an entrance fee. Starting at the Malga Costa, a rural building that was formerly used by shepherds and is often itself used to host exhibitions in summer, the path heads towards the woods of the Val di Sella. The route is shorter than the original but is jam-packed with many more works of art, around fifty in total, including the famous Tree Cathedral by Giuliano Mauri.
In addition to the works of art, the fresh air, beautiful foliage (especially lovely at this time of year), peaceful atmosphere, and lovely surroundings and views, make this a perfect place to get away from daily life, to wander a little, and get lost in the majesty of nature while holidaying in Italy. So, if you have found a holiday rental in Trentino and you are looking for something different, fun, and cultural to do, while enjoying the incredible natural beauty of this stunning part of the world, then head to Arte Sella. Be sure to also keep an eye on their social media before you plan a trip as they also often play host to special events such as concerts, workshops, and more, which would only heighten any experience of the museum.