Gabbiolo
Discovering Gabbiolo, the hamlet of Trento
Have you ever heard of Gabbiolo? It is a hamlet in the Italian municipality of Trento, in Trentino-Alto Adige. Along with other locations, such as Celva and Passo del Cimirlo, it is part of the Decentralized Municipal District Number 7 of the municipality of Trento. In this text, we want to deepen our knowledge of Gabbiolo, with all its monuments and places of interest.
Physical Geography
Gabbiolo is located east of the city of Trento, separated from the urban area by the Valsugana railway line. It is located on the western slopes of the Marzola massif and the town is crossed by the Gabbiolo stream, which gives its name to the village. Along its route, the Gabbiolo stream joins the Salè stream and flows into the Fersina stream near Via Marsala. Other watercourses that affect the territory of the hamlet are the Rozola stream and the Valnigra stream, with the latter separating Gabbiolo from the center of Villazzano.
Monuments and places of interest
If you are passionate about architecture and enjoy discovering new places, Gabbiolo will not disappoint you. The hamlet boasts many churches and villas that will leave you speechless.
Religious architecture
The Church of San Francesco d'Assisi in Trento is located in the center of the hamlet and was the parish church before its merger with the parish of Povo. It was built on the initiative of Francesco Moser in 1748, with a design by Francesco Orlandini. Instead, the decorations on the façade are to be referred to the Lombard artist Pietro Antonio Bianchi. The church is oriented northward and has a two-sloping façade with a tympanum. In the center of the façade, there is a pediment with a multilineal gable, two smaller windows on each side, and a quatrefoil. On the right side stands a Moorish-style bell tower called Cuspide. The interior instead presents a nave with two spans and a presbytery, both covered by a barrel vault.
The small Church of San Rocco is located along via Gabbiolo, not far from the former parish church, and was first mentioned in 1579. The building is oriented eastward and has a two-sloping façade with a linteled portal in the center. Above the portal, there is a small quadrilobate rose window, while on the sides, two square windows open. The interior is characterized by a barrel vault nave and a cross vault presbytery.
Civil architecture
Villa Salvadori is a monumental architectural complex, built by Francesco Moser towards the end of the 17th century. Villa Salvadori is composed of three main buildings which are the central nucleus of the residential building, a villa dating back to the 18th century, and the pavilion known as "Tea House," in Moorish style. At the end of the 18th century, the fountain in the garden was also built, created by the sculptor Francesco Antonio Giongo.
In the locality of Graffiano, just outside the town center near the Gocciadoro Park, there are the remains of the Pietrapiana Castle, an ancient fortification for defensive and control purposes. The first testimony of the castle dates back to a lawsuit dated 1247. The main tower is still standing, known as the Pietrapiana Tower or the Gionghi Tower.
If you are passionate about history and architecture, Gabbiolo is the ideal destination for a day of discovery of monuments and places of interest. All you have to do is plan a trip!
