Overview
The Brenta Dolomites group rises in the west of the region as a solitary limestone island, bordered on all sides by deep valley furrows: to the west, the Rendena valley, carved by the Sarca river, and the Meledrio valley, its natural continuation towards the Sole valley; to the north, the large loop formed by the course of the Noce river between the Sole and Non valleys; and to the east, the furrow of Lake Molveno. In the shadow of the massif, these valleys have undergone different fates.
That of the Non Valley is also linked to its history and location. A natural link between German-speaking and Italian-speaking lands, the Non or Anaunia Valley has always been involved in the power games between the Church, the Empire and powerful local feudal lords. This is still amply testified by the many castles (Castel Thun stands out above all others) in the valley, with defensive walls, towers, ramparts, moats and lavish, refined interiors. There is also no shortage of sanctuaries and churches, such as the evocative complex of the Sanctuary of San Romedio. Nor, of course, is there any shortage of evocative natural surroundings: there are passes and refuges, there are lakes such as Molveno with its village, and the entire valley is covered in apple orchards that provide the tables with apples of the highest quality: this is why it is also known as the Valley of the Apples.
Val di Non, Provincia autonoma di Trento, Italia
