Ala

You will be stunned by the historic centre in this southern Vallagarina hamlet, which has succeeded in keeping its ancient splendour intact to this very day. It’s no wonder that Ala is one of the towns awarded an Orange Flag from the Italian Touring Club.

It is also known as the “City of Velvet”, as it was a landmark city for the production of silk velvet between the late 17th and 18th centuries. Traces of its prestigious past linger on in the elegant baroque style of the buildings in the town centre. You can enjoy it at its best in summer, when the “Ala, City of Velvet” event takes place. During this time, piazzas, buildings and gardens open up to host art, music and poetry exhibitions, and you can take guided tours with costumed guides. 

Don’t miss out on the Antique Piano Museum, home to instruments from the days of Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart, who actually played in the town during one of his visits to Italy. 

Afterwards, if you feel like taking a walk, you can enjoy some Nordic walking or MTB on the nearby Lessinia Plateau. For excursions on the Piccole Dolomiti or “Little Alps”, on the other hand, the starting point is in Valle dei Ronchi.