2° Tappa: ELEMENTS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST
Prada’s meadow environments
The meadows that one can find on Monte Prada represent a truly unique botanical system, with an uncontaminated charm. Already in past centuries it is said that the best mountain grass was found here to feed the livestock during the winter for the inhabitants of Terlago and other small towns in the area. It is a lean pasture, i.e. not fertilized, and rich, i.e. with a very high diversity of species present. This is due to the specific composition of the soil, the climatic factors but above all the management which involves only one mowing of grass per year which allows the promiscuous growth of different species and is the perfect habitat for high quality forage which gives a great value to milk and its derivatives. This environment offers itself as the perfect home for a plant community made up of dozens of species of herbs and, between the end of winter and autumn, offers spectacular multicolored blooms. There are also numerous species of animals that find their habitat in the meadows, especially insects such as butterflies and a multitude of other small invertebrates. These represent a strong attraction for insectivorous birds. On the meadows of Prada it is common to spot hares, roe deer and foxes, especially in the quieter moments of the day, but deer and brown bears also often pass through these parts at night.
Lamar Lake and Holy Lake
The two lakes, located above the town of Terlago, are separated by approximately 150 meters of torrential fans and surrounded by woods steeped in history and memory. Lake Lamar is characterized by green and pure water, with a very popular beach on one side and rock walls overlooking the lake on the other, which are reflected in the transparent surface. The Holy Lake is also used for irrigation of the surrounding countryside. The most interesting aspect of these two lakes is undoubtedly their karst nature, given by the chemical activity exerted by the water, with a territory characterized not only by the widespread presence of limestone rocks, but also by sinkholes and by water that easily filters deep into the subsoil.
Near Lake Lamar opens the so-called Lamar Abyss, one of the deepest caves in Trentino, with around 400 meters of difference in altitude, frequented by expert speleologists. This abyss opens about thirty meters above the eastern shore of Lake Lamar and descends for 200 meters in a muddy meander, which leads to the so-called Trieste well, 150 meters deep and 10 meters wide, where there is also a small spring fed by the waters of the lake itself. The charm of this complex karst architecture is given precisely by the dialogue between meanders and wells, both in succession and in secondary directions, which give life to exceptional habitats for many animals and plant species.
Irregular boulders
On the road that leads from Monte Terlago to the Lamar Lakes we find what for the locals is the “Sas Gris” (literally “grey stone”), an enormous erratic boulder of almost 20 cubic meters to which poems and works of art have been dedicated to. It is composed of magmatic rock (porphyry) and clearly differs from the surrounding limestone rocks, clearly demonstrating the passage of the Adige glacier which transported it here after its melting dating back to just over 10,000 years ago. The erratic boulders are closely linked to the theme of ‘glacialism’ which in the Valle dei Laghi acted as a decisive contributor to the conformation of the territory; the signs of his ‘work’ are numerous: ravines, moraines, erratic boulders, underground caves, tracked fields and bowl-shaped cavities better known as ‘giants potholes’.
Terlago Lake
This lake, at over 400 meters above sea level, has a rich variety of fish species and for this reason it is a sort of paradise for fishermen. The particular color of this body of water – between brown and olive – is given by the varied flora that creates a truly productive ecosystem. From archaeological signs, it seems that this area has been inhabited since the Paleolithic thanks to its characteristics. Today it is possible to circumnavigate the lake thanks to the creation of a route.
Acqua Viva Terlago Route – This route, strongly promoted by the Valle dei Laghi Ecomuseum, is a real naturalistic itinerary which winds along a dirt path along the shores of Lake Terlago, touching some points of great naturalistic interest which highlight the very rich biodiversity in the area.
Terlago
It seems that the name of this place derives from the Latin “inter lacus”, that is, between the lakes, referring precisely to the bodies of water that characterise the area. Undoubtedly worth seeing is the Church of Sant’Andrea Apostolo, documented since 1183, in Renaissance style, which underwent numerous transformations over the centuries. Also very characteristic is the very ancient Church of San Pantaleone da Terlago, which stands on a rocky spur. The territory of Terlago has a history linked to mills since the 13th century and the art of milling was very important at a local level with a series of factories that characterized the activity of the town for centuries. Also noteworthy is undoubtedly the medieval Castel Terlago, which over time underwent many destructions and reconstructions. Having lost its nature as a fortress, it is now a private residence, with two 12th century towers, which were used to control the area, and a palace surrounded by a large garden.
Vezzano
The finds found at the end of the 19th century in the glacial wells along the nearby Antonio Stoppani Geological Path demonstrate that these places have been inhabited since the Bronze and Iron Ages. There are documents from 1574 that tell of the activities linked to the canal but the deviation of the Roggia Grande seems to date back much earlier, leading to the creation of a real artisan area in the center of the town, with sawmills, workshops, ceramic, iron, copper, etc. The parish church is dedicated to Saints Vigilio and Valentino and is very rich in both internal and external decorations. The original building dates back to 1200 but starting from 1500 there were various renovations. The facade features a splayed door, a mosaic and a clock face that embellishes the bell tower; Inside there are works of great value as well as the relics of the two patron saints. Just outside the center there is also the Lusan Art Park, inaugurated in 2020, a thematic contemporary art park immersed in the nature of the Valle dei Laghi. The aim is to tell the history, culture and nature of the area through artistic installations made with different materials.
