Lavarone

The physically dispersed, tight-knit community of Lavarone, has its own culture defined by the intersection of nature, art, and history. I had many new experiences in this welcoming town, unlike any typical tourist visit.

Flora and Fauna

I made cheese for the first time, and I ate the cheese too. It was surprisingly a simple process. We also fed baby cows and learned about the technology involved in bringing them into the world. The feeding process for the adult cows was impressive – a self-serve process individualized to each cow.

Art and Architecture

A charming feature in Lavarone is the art walk woven throughout the forest. The art challenged its audience with questions of art and nature, restoration and deterioration, and more. Many pieces were created directly from natural materials or meant to reflect nature’s shapes.

History and Honey

Many fortresses are built into the mountain landscape, in and around Lavarone. Our group visited the Austian-Hungarian fortress, Belvedere-Gschwent. This immense structure consists of deep underground tunnels and rooms that peak out the mountain’s side or above as a cannon bunker.

Lavarone is home to the honey museum! The museum details the history of honey collection contraptions. There are honey candies, wax candles, and, most importantly, honey grappa in the museum gift shop. I’d like to have my own honey bees in the future.