Description of the attraction
Val di Rabbi is a valley in the Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige in Val di Sole, through which the rapid mountain stream Rabbis flows. There are about 50 settlements in the valley, located on both banks of the river. The most important are the towns of Prakomo, San Bernardo, Rabbi Fonti and Piazzola. The main source of income for local residents is tourism, as there are several spa centers, as well as the Stelvio National Park, created in 1935 and one of the most important protected areas in Europe. In addition, livestock farming is developed in Val di Rabbi, which gives excellent meat and milk, which have been famous since the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Finally, it is worth mentioning the iron-containing springs that gush among the majestic mountains and have been used for medicinal purposes for a long time.
The development of Val di Rabbi began between the 11th and 12th centuries. Farmers from the nearby towns of Male, Terzolas and Caldes were the first to arrive. Gradually, temporary settlements tied to seasonal migrations of livestock became more permanent, until a real population explosion occurred in the middle of the 15th century. In 1513, the church of San Bernardo was consecrated, which indicates that the valley was already well-populated at that time. True, the inhabitants of the valley often suffered from various natural disasters, the worst of which was the flood of 1789, which destroyed many houses, bridges, mills and sawmills.
The current Parish Church of Val di Rabbi was built between 1957 and 1959 by the Trentino-based architect Efrem Ferrari, on the site of an older structure, which was first mentioned in the 15th century. The walls of the church are made of granite blocks and the sloping roof is reminiscent of traditional Alpine architecture. The bell tower adjoins the right wall of the building, and its façade features a huge fresco by Carlo Bonacin depicting St. Bernard. The same artist painted the inner walls of the church. The only rectangular nave is half dark, and most of the church decoration was taken from the old temple. Particularly noteworthy are the 18th century wooden niche and altarpiece by Elia Naurizio and his own painting by Modanna Rosary. A stone baptismal font dating back to 1513 stands in a small niche at the northern wall.
A visit to Val di Rabbi would be incomplete without a visit to the Stelvio National Park with its amazing natural landscapes, waterfalls and the newly created trail leading to the largest and oldest larch in Trentino, the Scalinata dei Larici Monumentali.
