Walking through Paneveggio means entering a forest that, in a very real sense, knows how to sing. Among these Norway spruces grows the so-called resonance wood: a rare variety with extremely fine and regular growth rings, light yet rigid, capable of transmitting sound better than any other material. This is no tourist-brochure legend: a recent study of hundreds of Stradivari violins confirmed that timber from the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme did indeed reach the workshops of Cremona, and that masters such as Stradivari and Amati sought it out specifically here. The selection of trees remains a painstaking process to this day, and felling traditionally takes place in late autumn during the waning moon, when the sap is still and the wood stays most stable.
The forest is crossed by easy, well-maintained trails that are comfortable even with children, winding between towering spruces and sudden clearings. The Paneveggio Visitor Centre tells the full story: how a resonance tree is identified, how the forest lives, and what happens when a trunk becomes a soundboard. Along the paths you pass through the wildlife enclosures where the park's deer roam — always a highlight for families with young children. Longer excursions toward the Lagorai chain and the Pale di San Martino also begin here, though sometimes it is enough simply to stop, stand in silence, and listen to the wind moving through the canopy to understand where the nickname comes from.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Forest of Violins?
Because its Norway spruces have supplied resonance wood for the soundboards of stringed instruments for centuries. The connection is historically documented: even the workshops of Cremona, including Stradivari's, sourced timber from these valleys.
Is the forest suitable for families?
Very much so. The trails around Paneveggio are largely flat and well signposted, and between the Visitor Centre and the deer enclosures there is more than enough to keep children occupied for half a day.