Transacqua
The Geography of Transacqua
Transacqua is one of the five municipalities that make up the municipality of Primiero San Martino di Castrozza, in the autonomous province of Trento, in Trentino-Alto Adige. It is located in the Primiero valley and extends mainly on the left bank of the Cismon and Canali streams, near their confluence. The area on the right bank of the Cismon is limited to the Pieve fraction and the eastern slopes of the Bedolè, a wooded area at 1792 m.
The village is located on a sunny slope at the foot of Cimon di Fradusta, which is the western end of the Pale Alte del Palughet. Despite the presence of urbanization and the approach to the forest limit, the area is still characterized by a rural imprint with vast meadows.
The territory of the former municipality of Transacqua also included the area east of the Cereda pass, reachable by car only by passing through the municipality of Tonadico. This area is closed to the south by the aforementioned Pale del Palughet and to the north by the southern foothills of the Pale di San Martino group. In addition, there is the high Val Noana, in this stretch called Val Giasinozza, which ends at the foot of the Cimonega group, with Sass de Mura, the highest altitude of the municipality.
The Origin of the Name
The name "Transacqua" could derive from the compound of the words "trans" and "acqua" with the meaning of "beyond the water" (the Canali stream). Another possible origin is "tres aquae", or "three waters", referring to the Canali, Cereda and Rich Maor streams. In a document by Duke Sigismondo of Austria on the management of the mines in Primiero, reference is made to the German exonym "Trusarge". However, in the following centuries, the Italian toponym with the variant "Transaqua" was preferred.
The History of Primiero
The history of Transacqua is intertwined with that of the rest of Primiero. The region was permanently inhabited only between the 5th and 8th centuries by Venetian refugees fleeing barbarian invasions, but the presence of older Celtic settlements cannot be excluded. In the Middle Ages, the region was subjected to the rule of the dioceses of Feltre, but their power declined starting from the 13th century. Over the centuries, Primiero was governed by the Scaligeri, Charles IV of Luxembourg, John Henry of Luxembourg, the Carraresi, and the counts of Tyrol.
In 1401, Leopold IV of Habsburg granted Primiero in fief to Giorgio di Welsperg and his descendants continued to administer it until the 19th century. However, the community of Transacqua obtained broad autonomy because it could elect its own representatives to be sent to the Tyrolean government. Transacqua, in particular, was the seat of a "rural commune" of the valley with jurisdiction also over the nearby Siror.
Transacqua Today
Transacqua mainly lives off tourism thanks to its natural beauties and the numerous activities that are present in the area. The proximity to the Pale di San Martino and the Paneveggio Pale di San Martino nature park makes it an ideal starting point for excursions and horseback riding. The Val Noana is renowned for its walks in the mountains and for sport fishing. The village hosts the Ortolano Festival every year, an event dedicated to enhancing local agricultural productions.
Transacqua is a small jewel of the province of Trento, a place that encloses all the beauty of the mountain: green meadows and towering peaks, enchanted forests, and crystal clear streams. Staying in Transacqua means immersing oneself in a world of peace and tranquility, far from the chaos of the city, and rediscovering contact with nature.
