Trentino's family capital on the Paganella plateau, with the gondola climbing to 2,125 metres and the karst lake that appears and disappears.
A short history
Andalo sits at 1,042 metres, in a basin of meadows on the Paganella plateau, between the massif that gives it its name and the walls of the Brenta Dolomites. The village was born from the union of old farmsteads scattered across the basin, and their names still mark its neighbourhoods today.
For centuries it lived off hay, livestock and woods, like the other villages of the plateau. The turning point came after the Second World War, when the first lifts opened the slopes of the Paganella to skiing: within two generations Andalo went from farming village to one of the tourist capitals of Trentino.
Today it is the region's family destination par excellence: hotels designed for children, well-equipped meadows, a big activity park in the centre of the village and the gondola climbing to the 2,125 metres of the Paganella, with a panoramic terrace sweeping from the Brenta to the Adige valley. In winter the slopes running down towards the village are among the favourites of Italian families.
The most singular curiosity is the lake of Andalo: a karst lake that appears in spring, when the snow melts and the basin fills, then shrinks back and almost vanishes over the course of the summer. Some years it covers the meadows for weeks, others it barely surfaces: it is the natural thermometer of the plateau's seasons.
What to see
- The Paganella gondola, which climbs from the village to the 2,125-metre summit, with a panoramic terrace embracing the Brenta Dolomites and the Adige valley.
- The lake of Andalo, the seasonal karst lake that appears in spring with the snowmelt and shrinks back over the summer.
- The meadows and the activity park in the centre of the village, the heart of the family offering that has made Andalo the family capital of Trentino.
How to get to Andalo
By car, leave the A22 Brenner motorway at San Michele all'Adige-Mezzocorona and climb to the plateau through Fai della Paganella, on to Andalo. From the south you can arrive from Trento through the Valle dei Laghi and Molveno. The nearest stations are Mezzocorona and Trento, linked to the village by scheduled buses.
When to go
In winter Andalo is the base for the Paganella slopes, with a season running from December to April. In summer the basin fills with families among meadows, trails and the gondola open for high-altitude walks. In spring, with the snowmelt, the karst lake reaches its greatest size.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Andalo?
In winter you ski the Paganella slopes, in summer you walk among meadows, malga huts and high trails reached by gondola. In the centre of the village the big activity park keeps children busy all year round, and in spring you can see the karst lake at its fullest.
Why is Andalo the family capital of Trentino?
Because the whole offering of the village is built around families: hotels designed for children, well-equipped meadows, a big activity park in the centre and wide, sunny ski slopes. It is one of the destinations Italian families choose most for a mountain holiday.
How do you get to Andalo?
By car you leave the A22 at San Michele all'Adige-Mezzocorona and climb to the plateau through Fai della Paganella. From the south you arrive from Trento through the Valle dei Laghi and Molveno. The nearest stations are Mezzocorona and Trento, linked by scheduled buses.
Why does the lake of Andalo disappear?
Because it is a karst lake: it fills in spring with the snowmelt, when the basin collects the water, and then drains slowly through its permeable bed. In summer it shrinks until it almost vanishes, and its size changes greatly from year to year.
How do you get up the Paganella from Andalo?
With the gondola that leaves from the village and climbs to the 2,125-metre summit. At the top you find a panoramic terrace with views over the Brenta Dolomites, the Adige valley and, on clear days, much of Trentino. In winter the gondola serves the slopes, in summer the trails.