Volano
Welcome to Volano: a brief guide to the history and places of interest in this Trentino municipality
Welcome to Volano, an Italian municipality located in the province of Trento, in the Adige Valley. With its 3045 inhabitants, Volano is a small municipality nestled in the green Vallagarina. In this brief article, we will explain the history of the municipality and its places of interest.
History
Volano has a long history dating back to the Lombard period. The village is mentioned for the first time by Paolo Diacono in his book "Historia Longobardorum" dating back to 590 AD. Although there have been several theories about the origin of the name, it is believed to derive from the Latin "abellana", which means hazelnut, as the territory of Volano was rich in hazelnuts. Other theories suggest a Celtic origin of the name, from "Vo-Land", which means "land near the river".
Monuments and places of interest
Volano is a municipality rich in monuments and places of interest. Among the most important places to visit are the Church of the Purification of Mary and the Oratory of the Most Holy Trinity. The Church of the Purification of Mary is the parish church of the village and was built in the sixteenth century. The Oratory of the Most Holy Trinity, also called the Confraternity chapel, is located next to the Church of the Purification of Mary and is one of the oldest monuments in Volano.
The Church of San Rocco is another church of great historical importance. Dating back to the thirteenth century, it is located in the Borgo area, in via Roma, in the northern part of the village. The interior of the church is entirely frescoed and the paintings represent the highlights of the life of Jesus, Mary and Saints Rocco, George and Martin.
Finally, the Hermitage of Santa Cecilia is a very suggestive place of worship located on the "Cengio Rosso", a sheer drop that dominates the Vallagarina to the north of Volano.
Society
Volano has a population of 3045 inhabitants. The majority of the population speaks Italian and professes the Catholic religion, as the municipality is part of the diocese of Trento.
Culture
Volano is famous for its carnival, a very popular event in the village. The carnival takes place every year from Fat Thursday to Shrove Tuesday, and the most important day is the last one, where the parade of floats takes place, a tradition that has been going on for 60 years and makes Volano one of the few Trentino carnivals that can still boast this tradition. The parade of floats takes place in the early afternoon of Shrove Tuesday in a district next to the elementary school and features floats that depict cartoons, fairy tales and references to the life of the village. There are always groups of revelers who enjoy poking fun at the political and social life of the village with ironic or satirical notes.
Conclusion
Volano is a truly interesting municipality, full of history and monuments that are worth visiting. We hope we have given you enough information to make you want to visit and discover this little Trentino gem in person.
