Sustainable Valsugana

Blue Flag Lakes 

In 2013, Lake Levico was the first lake in Italy to be awarded the Bandiera Blu, the prestigious Foundation for Environmental Education “Blue Flag” award, now active in 41 countries, that recognises commitment to sustainable responsible management of marine and lake resorts. The water must be clear and clean, filled with biodiversity and bubbling with life. Services on the beaches and adjacent locations must safeguard the health of the lake, its inhabitants and those who frequent it, promoting awareness and passion.

Lake Levico was reconfirmed a Blue Flag lake in 2024, together with Lake Caldonazzo, an award that recognises merit and stimulates continued reflection on the constructive relationship between human beings and nature.  

Mountain Hut Holidays 

What better way to fully experience the mountains, than living in them? Inside the cosy walls of a hut that smells of wood and stone and still resounds with the stories of those who built and loved it?

Vacanze in baita is an association that promotes the widespread hospitality in existing mountain huts on Lagorai and in Valsugana, for families, sports enthusiasts, and anyone looking to just relax and savour the atmosphere of a traditional home, easily accessible but surrounded by nature.

We also embody the place where we live, and waking up in the balanced stillness of a place that feels like home encourages us to care for each other and the planet that hosts us. 

The Land of Bees 

While waiting for the whole Earth to become the 'Land of Bees', Levico Terme is a frontrunner in welcoming and preserving this insect, essential for biodiversity and on whose pollination more than 75% of global food crops depend. In addition to producing their sweet liquid gold, bees are key players in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and are sentinels of an area's environmental health.

Levico has been promoting and protecting local beekeeping since 2021 and, in cooperation with the Valsugana Lagorai Tourist Board and the Hoteliers' Association, promotes awareness-raising initiatives. The Land of Bees buzzes with proposals, from good zero-food-mile honey tasting sessions to sensory experiences among the hives...  

Adopt a cow 

When walking through the green pastures of Valsugana, you will often encounter the true queens of the mountain meadows, who observe hikers with curiosity. In the background, as if painted, busy farmsteads stand out. But the focus on animal welfare and the preservation of the land, as well as the quality of dairy products, are the result not of magic but of the constant hard work by the farmers and the entire community.

The self-sacrifice and constancy of the cowherds goes hand in hand with the support of local administrations and organisations, but visitors also play a key role. The first step is to understand that the quality of products lies in their simplicity but that genuineness also means respect for knowledge and manual labour.

You can take part in the Adopt a cow project by supporting local producers and contributing to the commitment of the high-altitude alpine farmsteads. Part of the proceeds will also be donated to land protection activities, such as upgrading of trails and paths in cooperation with the Valsugana and Tesino CAT SAT sections.  

Two feet, two wheels 

Two feet, two wheels and public mobility are the keywords. Cycling enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with 300 km of mountain bike routes - up to 2000 metres above sea level! - road cycling routes linked to the Giro d'Italia, and an 80 km cycle path along the Brenta River from Lake Caldonazzo to Bassano del Grappa, with 'Bicigrill' refreshment points and a train+bike service during the high season.

Optimisation of the bicycle and trail network, together with the introduction of charging and rental services for e-bikes, has made important attractions such as Arte Sella accessible without a car, promoting low-emission mobility. In addition, the efficient bus service makes it possible to reach places such as the Panarotta even by bicycle or paraglider, meeting the needs of the keenest sports people.

The Valsugana and Lagorai Provincial Tourist Board, in support of the work done by the five local CAI SAT sections that manage over 2,345 km of trails, has launched the Tesino Lagorai Trekking & Bike project to monitor the condition of existing trails and map out new itineraries in order to expand and connect the sustainable mobility network throughout the territory.  

Go Nature Positive

Nature always knows how to bring out the best in us: sometimes it is just a matter of listening to her and thinking like her. GoNaturePositive! is a collaborative initiative supported by the European Commission, involving administrators, businesses, civil society and visitors to implement an economy of coexistence in harmony with the planet. Valsugana was selected as a pilot area to implement innovative strategies in the field of sustainable tourism.

Can tourism contribute to restoring nature and preserving biodiversity? How can the most popular destinations be managed responsibly and reciprocally? Data are calculated, problems and possibilities are analysed and then we reason together on how to implement the eco-compatibility of the entire tourism chain in the area: go nature, go!  

Fighting food waste 

We throw away a third of the food we produce: one in three apples, one in three pizzas. Eliminating food waste is an essential step when we talk about combating the climate crisis, ecological transition and social justice. Local producers, the beating heart of Valsugana gastronomy, are encouraged to reduce waste during harvesting, processing and distribution.

The farmers' markets and zero-food-mile shops promote the consumption of products that are seasonal and imperfect in appearance, challenging the aesthetic standards proposed by the large-scale retail trade with the unmatched value of taste and substance. And if something is leftover, or just doesn't look right to be sold as is, it is turned into juices, preserves and other artisanal products, always with a view to minimum waste and maximum quality.

Whether at festivals or major events, or in the day-to-day work of hotels, restaurants and agritourisms, the many awareness-raising and training projects aim to minimise food waste: some establishments offer specially calibrated portions and invite visitors to take away any leftovers with initiatives such as the 'food box', sustainable containers for uneaten food. Schools are also in the front line and with shared workshops and educational projects children and young people learn from a very young age to respect what they eat and recognise its value. 

Biolago Castel Tesino 

A stretch of water to dive into for a cooling swim after a walk, or rest and relax on its banks. Biolago di Castel Tesino is a bathing lake that is always pure and crystal clear thanks to natural purification systems based on aquatic plants and micro-organisms. Pollutants are banished and, set in a fairytale landscape between the blue sky and the pointed silhouettes of the valley villages, the Biolago blends harmoniously into its natural surroundings, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional swimming pools.

The commitment to management that reduces and optimises the use of energy and water resources makes this place a tangible step towards the transformation of Valsugana into an eco-friendly tourist destination. 

Arte Sella

True policies of respect for nature must go hand in hand with a radical cultural paradigm shift: art and science, culture and nature are essential components of the humanity we want to be and the society we want to build. In Valsugana, human beings and nature invent and create together, making art in the open air in a marriage of what is and what could be, always with the utmost respect for the environment and biodiversity.

Arte Sella is an internationally renowned exhibition of contemporary art, starring branches, leaves, stones, trunks, and portions of sky, river, and meadows as the main players. The artists are fellow travellers who, together with the visitors, follow the continuous evolution of the landscape and the Earth, respecting its times and moods and constantly reshaping their works according to what nature inspires.