Fornace
Discovering the town of Fornace
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Fornace, a small town in the province of Trento with a population of 1316. First of all, I will tell you about the geography of the town. Fornace is closely linked to the Argentario plateau, which takes its name from the smelting furnaces that were formerly used to work the silver extracted from the numerous mines in the area. The Monte Piano mountain trail, located near the town, offers a splendid opportunity to admire the porphyry quarries, a local magmatic stone that has replaced the source of wealth in the area over time. Crossing the Argentario plateau, you come into contact with the world of canopies, horizontal galleries used to extract silver-bearing galena in the Middle Ages.
A mysterious legend
Before descending to Fornace, the trail passes near the entrance of one of the best-preserved and largest canopies: the Raita canopy. Here, the legend goes, dwarves had dug for the lords of Trento all the available silver in that prosperous underground. The tale becomes even more dramatic when you think that those poor miners were killed during a lunch given in their honor. It is said that all the banquet participants had eaten poisoned food except Bernardo Clesio, known as Bernardo Cles, who had taken an antidote based on marangolo, a bitter orange. Despite the legend, the marangolo tree can still be found in the courtyard of the Buonconsiglio in Trento.
A town with ancient history
Fornace is a very old town, mentioned in some documents as early as 845. It is located on the terraced Wurmian moraines on the southeast slope of Monte Piano, between the Permian sandstone formations and the porphyries of the "porphyry platform". The original nucleus of the town was formed by clusters arranged in "cormei", with internal courtyards and wooden superstructures. Fornace probably owes its name to the presence of furnaces for firing and melting silver.
The castle of Fornace
The town of Fornace is surrounded by the castle, which over time has been expanded and restored. The building is circular in structure with a cylindrical tower that served as an outpost for the defense of the territory. Other parts of the castle have been adapted to private homes, such as the Bishop's Palace, which has become the summer residence of a local noble family.
The church of Santa Maria Assunta
The town also houses the church of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to the 12th century. The church was built in Romanesque-Gothic style and expanded over the following centuries. Inside are frescoes from the 15th century and a precious canvas by the master Francesco Guardi.
Fornace's events
Every year in August, the "Festa dell'Assunta" is held in honor of the church of Santa Maria Assunta. During the festival, processions, musical performances, craft exhibitions, and tastings of local products take place.
Conclusions
Now you know a little more about Fornace, a town with an ancient and mysterious charm. This town has grown up among the frescoes of the church of Santa Maria Assunta and the legends of the silver mines. The Monte Piano mountain trail will give you the opportunity to admire the beauty of the territory and to come into contact with the history of the area. If you are in the area, don't miss the "Festa dell'Assunta", an unmissable opportunity to discover the beauty and tradition of this Trentino town.
