VALLE DI NON, territorio rurale e ospitale

Genius loci, or the spirit of a place. If we were to capture the cultural essence that characterizes the Non Valley, known worldwide as the valley of apples, we would need to adopt a symbol within which tradition meets innovation. This is also contained in the biography of Sergio Zucal, entrepreneur and creator of modern automation systems that connect apple harvesting to sorting and automatic packaging. In this way, Zucal claims, this valley has been able to "free up" a series of resources to improve the environmental and tourism quality of the area. Today, thanks to the Apple Route, events like Pomaria, and the underground cellars of Melinda (to name just a few), it can boast a series of highly respected attractions for the tourist market. In addition to a journey into modern fruit harvesting and packaging systems, this week's episode presents some aspects of rural life in the valley that lend themselves well to an alliance with tourism. We meet Tarcisio Fattor, who, with his brother and cousin, raises a herd of Bruna cattle, producing Trentingrana. Along with apples, Tarcisio has also rediscovered mountain potatoes, a tuber that lends itself perfectly to crop rotation and local cuisine. Finally, we visit the Malga di Romeno, a mountain refuge of the same name, to appreciate a corner of the valley where woods, pastures, and mountains shape the ideal landscape for excursions and short, thrilling treks. Cristina Francisci, who lives at the mountain hut year-round with her children and husband, delights us with the typical cuisine of a region that also owes much to "German" cuisine, as many tourists speak that language. Finally, with Andrea Fedrizzi, Marketing Manager at Melinda, we recall the many opportunities for fruit growing and tourism to meet, discussing cycle paths, agritourism, and events such as Pomaria and the Golden Theatre at Mondomelinda. It's a place that projects us into the three-dimensional dimension of the valley and accompanies us on a remote exploration of the underground cellars where apples are preserved naturally in tunnels carved into the mountain above. A unique experience, as only rural tourism can offer.