Nature, spas and tradition

The Val di Rabbi: nature, spas and tradition

The Val di Rabbi is one of the most beautiful valleys in Trentino, with a typical Alpine landscape and a natural environment which is still unspoiled, much of it protected by the Stelvio National Park.

Rabbi is a little gem, squeezed in between the gently sloping pine forested mountainsides which provide the perfect habitat for many wild animals such as deer, roe deer, foxes and marmots. Higher up, the summits form part of the famous Ortles-Cevedale mountain chain. The valley floor is carpeted with green fields, tiny villages and restored huts which, along with the rustic farmhouses further up the mountain side and countless dairies on the high pastures, represent a perfect union between man and mountain. Water is everywhere, from the wild Rabbies river which slices the valley in half to the many streams, waterfalls and little high altitude lakes.

The Terme di Rabbi spa, famous for its iron-rich mineral waters and their therapeutic properties, used to be frequented by the Imperial Court of Austria. During mediaeval times, the uninhabited valley was slowly populated by farmers looking for new land and forests to work. Over time, a rural community grew up, one in which knowledge, expertise and traditions were passed down from one generation to another. Their farming also shaped the landscape with the delicate, skilled touch of an artist.

Today, in a world that is very different socially and economically, there remains a desire among the inhabitants of the valley to protect that they have inherited, but to do so in a way which does not ignore the needs of modern society. There is a focus on environmentally sustainable tourism which makes the most of this special place. In recent years, many young people have “gone back to the land”, devoting themselves to tending to the soil and raising cattle and sheep, driven by a passion not just for the animals but also for the ancient customs of this region.

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