Varena
Discovering Varena Fraction
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about Varena, a fraction of the municipality of Ville di Fiemme in Trentino. With a population of 843 inhabitants, Varena was one of the autonomous municipalities until January 1, 2020, when it merged with Carano and Daiano to create the new municipality of Ville di Fiemme.
Physical Geography
The Varena fraction is located at the foot of the Corno Nero, in the Dolomites, in the north-east region of Trentino. This location is a few kilometers north of Cavalese and a short distance from the Lavazè Pass plateau, and is close to the autonomous province of Bolzano.
History
Varena is one of the oldest Villas in the valley and was rebuilt after a fire in 1765. The coat of arms of Varena is blazoned as "blue, with a green landscape, supporting a rocky mountain, accompanied at the top by a golden sun." The gonfalon is a white drape, with the pole restricted to red, and flanked on the right by yellow and on the left by blue.
Monuments and Points of Interest
In Varena, you can find the house of the painter Antonio Longo, which is open to the public with a guide. There is also a nineteenth-century porphyry fountain from which the best quality drinking water in the valley flowed. Furthermore, it was famous for the ancient spa known for hay baths with aromatic herbs collected in the Oclini locality.
Church of Saints Peter and Paul
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul, consecrated in 1193 by Bishop Corrado II of Babenberg, is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The church originally contained a series of medieval frescoes, now partly preserved due to the reconstruction of 1428. Of remarkable historical value are the three remaining capitals of the Via Crucis, frescoed by Valentino Rovisi di Moena, a student of Tiepolo.
Attractions
Nativity Scene
The Varena nativity scene, called 'On the Way to Bethlehem,' extends along a path of over 700 meters and an area of 2500 m². Over 30 buildings, inhabited by hundreds of figures, have made the nativity scene a highly coveted tourist destination since 1989.
Lavazè
A few kilometers from Varena is the Lavazè Pass plateau, a well-known tourist destination frequented in all seasons. It hosts over 80 km of cross-country skiing and downhill skiing trails. In 2013, on the occasion of the world championships held in Val di Fiemme, all the facilities were renewed, and new runs with new structures were created.
Society
Varena hosts inhabitants with a collective nickname. The collection and sale of Arbutus unedo were traditional activities.
Demographic Evolution
The last demographic survey reported 843 inhabitants.
Traditions and Folklore
Varena has a rich tradition and folklore, such as the collection and sale of Arbutus unedo and the Bethlehem Nativity scene. Furthermore, the inhabitants of Varena have a collective nickname.
We hope this guide has been useful to discovering one of the treasures of Val di Fiemme. If you have the opportunity, come and visit us and experience this wonderful experience.
