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To visit: Fassa ValleyThe Fassa Valley is proud of its ancient artistic tradition which has left evident traces in every village of the valley and met its highest expression in the works of painters-decorators, in painting and sculpture as well. A deep spirituality, among the typical traits of mountain people, appears as the prevailing element of the cultural expression belonging to Ladin people. The presence of the sacred often recurs both in the villages and along the paths leading to the smallest built-up areas:”Via Crucis”, capitals, votive chapels and, finally, the sacred images adorning the inside and outside walls of houses and barns. Therefore, there is no doubt that the artistic production finds its best expression in the forms of the sacred art. Moreover, a clean distinction has to be made between churches, whose frescos and altars are largely art-school works, and private houses, where decorations and wall paintings are usually the result of a local, spontaneous and popular handicraft.
A particular reference has to be done to mural paintings. In spite of the heavy losses due to a lack of attention and to the passing of time, about one hundred frescos can be found in the Fassa Valley as a clear sign of spiritual life in this community. They date back to the 14th century up to recent years. Some themes are more recurrent such as the “Madonna del Soccorso” (Our Lady of Help) which had a large circulation in the Empire after the Turkish siege of Vienna (1683), as well as the image of St. Christopher, patron of the wayfarers, placed on the façade of the houses. This is now an evident proof that the Fassa Valley represented an important commercial way linking Trentino to the northern part of Tyrol (through the Wine and Salt Road). The oldest frescos of the Valley are naturally to be searched in the earliest churches, that were the sole brickwork buildings at least till the 16th century. An example of a particularly ancient mural painting can be found on the external wall of the Romanesque abse below the present church of San Giovanni. Medieval paintings also appear in the church of Campitello, with particular attention to some pieces of the Bologna School dated around 1370. Many works belonging to the second half of the 15th century are still well preserved in the church of Campitello, in St Volfgang Chapel in Moena and in St Giuliana Church. In this church you will also find a large number of frescos of the Bassano School. The 16th century was characterised by the passage from Gothic style to the Renaissance style: some examples of works belonging to this period are the frescos of a crucifixion on the enclosure walls of St Giuliana Church and the fresco of “Casa Bolner” (Bolner House) in Moena, dated 1547. A peculiar example is represented by “Casa Soldà” (Soldà House) near San Giovanni, that has some unique examples of profane painting. Silvestro Soldà was a soldier who had enriched after the war against the Turks. He had his house painted with a war scene, a banquet and a hunting scene. The fresco presents some structural affinities with the painted series of the right wall in the church of San Giovanni and dated 1576. The following century was marked by a larger opening to economic and cultural exchanges with the Venetian milieu. It was in this period that the popular painter Giovanni Forcellini, born in Agordo, left many works of art in the valley especially in Campitello, Moena and Soraga. In the 18th century the Fassa Valley opened itself to a considerable artistic influence coming from the near Fiemme Valley, whose artists followed the style of the Venetian School. In this context Valentino Rovisi, born in Moena, began his artistic experience. Between 1728 and 1750 the was the pupil of Tiepolo in Venice. He was surely the most remarkable artist in all the valley, and left many works in the region. Among his works we have to remember the altar-piece of St Vigilio Church in Moena and some valuable frescos decking some houses and cultural buildings such as the “Cappella delle Grazie” (Graces Chapel), and the tabernacle of Cernadoi in Moena. Besides to the sacred paintings, we do not have to forget the remarkable artistic expression of popular painters. By the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, they largely contributed to the artistic revival of the valley. In those years some local painters, induced by painful economic conditions, emigrated towards Germanic lands and to Austria in particular, where their work of “Kirchenmaler” (painters of churches) was particularly appreciated. The artistic experience of these painters takes shape in the decoration of churches, capitals, and votive chapels, of buildings and furniture: a symbol of a prestigious local handicraft. Another aspect we can mention when speaking about arts in the Fassa Valley is surely the long lasting tradition of wood-sculptors, a tradition that still today is handed on and maintained, thanks to the School of Arts in Pozza di Fassa where sculptors and local artists are formed. The production of wood masks used during the Carnival period (facères in ladin idiom) is particularly remarkable; and, finally, a place of honour is reserved to the fine production of artistic sculptures and handicraft products that still today represents one of the most known features of the Fassa Valley. |
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Useful information for your holiday in South Tyrol:
P.IVA - MwSt 01587030212 |
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