Nestled between mountains and river: Explore the small centre south of Bolzano
Image gallery: Vadena village
Vadena's small village centre clings to the wooded slopes of the Monte di Mezzo, which stretches towards Caldaro and Appiano. In the heart of the village, mentioned as "Uatina" in the medieval Letter of St. Vigilius of the 11th century, lies the so-called Schloss-Hof (castle courtyard).
This Schloss-Hof forms the heart of Vadena. The multi-storey building, known as Vadena Castle, dates back to the 13th century and now houses the town hall, a kindergarten, and a primary school. Two roads lead from Vadena village (Pfatten Dorf) in different directions: One heads south, below the porphyry cliffs, past the hamlets of the municipality. The other one crosses the Adige River on the white arched Vadena Bridge, connecting Vadena with Laives and Bronzolo.
The bridge symbolises the exchange and cooperation with neighbouring communities. For this reason, it has also hosted the "Lights on the Bridge" event several times, an evening featuring regional products, music, and light, audio, and video installations. Nearby, work has also begun to revitalise this section of the Adige River. The history of this area dates back to prehistoric times, as you can discover for yourself on hikes. Settlements existed as early as the Bronze Age.
They were places on the hills where Castelchiaro and Varco Castle stand. At the Vadena Horse Teeth rock formations you can discover the remains of a fortified settlement from the late Iron Age. The Vadena Trail also begins in the village, leading you over the wooded Monte di Mezzo mountain all the way to the Big Monticolo Lake, past an art installation in the woods.
