The main town of the Val Rendena, with the Baschenis Dance of Death, the Doss del Sabion cable car and the gateway to the Val Genova.
A short history
Pinzolo sits at 770 metres, where the Val Rendena widens between meadows and woods, with the Brenta Dolomites on one side and the peaks of the Adamello and the Presanella on the other. It is the largest village in the valley and has always been its centre.
Its treasure is the church of San Vigilio, just outside the built-up area. Along the outer wall runs the Dance of Death painted in 1539 by Simone Baschenis, of the family of itinerant painters from Bergamo who frescoed many churches in the Trentino valleys: a long procession of skeletons escorting popes, emperors and peasants, all equal before death. It is one of the most celebrated frescoes in the Alps.
For centuries its men left home as knife grinders, the moleti of the Val Rendena, who travelled Italy and Europe sharpening blades before returning home. In the 20th century the village opened up to tourism: the cable car climbs to the Doss del Sabion, just above 2,100 metres, onto a balcony embracing the Brenta and the Adamello, and a gondola links the Pinzolo slopes with those of Madonna di Campiglio.
Pinzolo is also the gateway to the Val Genova, the valley of waterfalls and granite that cuts into the heart of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park. A few kilometres from the village, the drop of the Nardis waterfalls is among the most spectacular in the Alps.
What to see
- The church of San Vigilio with the Dance of Death, the fresco cycle painted in 1539 by Simone Baschenis on the outer wall, among the most celebrated in the Alps.
- The Doss del Sabion cable car, which climbs from the village to just above 2,100 metres, onto a panoramic balcony between the Brenta Dolomites and the glaciers of the Adamello.
- The Val Genova, the valley of waterfalls in the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, with the drop of the Nardis falls a few kilometres from the centre.
How to get to Pinzolo
By car from the south, leave the A22 Brenner motorway at Trento, follow the state road for Sarche and Tione di Trento and drive up the Val Rendena to Pinzolo. From the north you can come through the Val di Sole and Campo Carlo Magno, dropping down from Madonna di Campiglio. The nearest station is Trento, linked to the village by the Giudicarie valleys scheduled buses.
When to go
In summer Pinzolo is a base for the Val Genova, the trails of the Brenta and high-altitude walks from the Doss del Sabion, with July and August lively with events and markets. In winter the slopes linked with Madonna di Campiglio make it a quieter ski base than Campiglio itself. June and September are the ideal months for walking without the crowds.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Pinzolo?
The church of San Vigilio with the Baschenis Dance of Death, the village centre with the traces of the knife grinders' tradition, and the Doss del Sabion, which you reach by cable car. A few kilometres away the Val Genova opens up with the Nardis waterfalls.
What is the Dance of Death of Pinzolo?
It is the fresco cycle painted in 1539 by Simone Baschenis on the outer wall of the church of San Vigilio: a long line of skeletons escorting popes, emperors and peasants, all equal before death. It is one of the most celebrated and best-preserved frescoes in the Alps.
How do you get to Pinzolo?
By car from the south you leave the A22 at Trento and follow the state road for Sarche and Tione, driving up the Val Rendena. From the north you come through the Val di Sole and Campo Carlo Magno, dropping down from Madonna di Campiglio. The nearest station is Trento, linked by scheduled buses.
How do you get up to the Doss del Sabion?
With the cable car that leaves from Pinzolo and climbs to just above 2,100 metres. At the top you find a panoramic balcony embracing the Brenta Dolomites on one side and the glaciers of the Adamello and the Presanella on the other. In winter it serves the slopes, in summer the high trails.
What is the Val Genova?
It is the valley of waterfalls and granite that cuts from Pinzolo and Carisolo into the heart of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park. The most famous of its waterfalls is Nardis, a few kilometres from the village, with a drop among the most spectacular in the Alps.