IN AND AROUND GARDA TRENTINO
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DRO
Dro, a small town on the road between Lake Garda and Valle dei Laghi covers a vast area rich in natural interest and breathtaking scenery with a fascinating history of Saints and legends. Over the centuries it has thrived as the northern gateway to Garda Trentino and to this day is a close-knit community in the hamlets of Ceniga, Dro and Pietramurata.
The heart of Dro history is the medieval centre which grew up around the parish church CHIESA PARROCCHIALE DELL’IMMACOLATA in piazza della Repubblica. This is the main place of worship and was built in the 14th century thanks to a bequest from a Dro native, Antonio Malfer. Construction was finished in 1876 but the building was only consecrated by the bishop of Trento in 1896. This meant that decoration of the interior was completed at the turn of the 20th century. Next door is the little church of SANTI SISINIO, MARTIRIO E ALESSANDRO which dates back
to the 12th century. It was partially demolished
in order to make space for its big “sister”. The church has a rectangular floor plan with a niche which serves as chapel, a short presbytery and a polygonal apse. The nave with its groin vault interplays with the umbrella vault of the presbytery and the pavilion groin vaults of the chapel. The historic belfry with its bell chamber with arched windows and onion-shaped steeple is still in use today.
Nearby stands the Town Hall and next to it, in via della Torre, the TORESELA, the remains of an ancient tower which was likely built to guard the northern end of the town. Heading south of the historic centre we come across more houses and another church. This is the church of SANT’ANTONIO DI PADOVA built with the approval of the families of Dro and Ceniga in 1661 on the ruins of an older chapel of which only a shrine remained which was also dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. For centuries, mothers would come in pilgrimage, first to the shrine and later to the new church, with their stillborn child. This was, legend has it, to obtain a “breath of life” which would allow for the child to receive the sacrament of baptism. The alleys and laneways of Dro, Ceniga and Pietramurata also conceal numerous doorways sculpted in stone and curious archways which bear witness to the long history of these communities.
In Ceniga, which can be reached on foot from the historic centre of Dro, there is an ancient ROMAN BRIDGE whose origin is uncertain although it clearly served a primary communications function where the roads coming from Laghel and Arco meet and proceed northwards. It was rebuilt in 1719 after the river flooded and again in 1868
after the demolition ordered by the Austrians during the Third War of Independence. Moving on to Pietramurata the eye of the visitor is immediately drawn to TORRE GUAITA, an ancient tower perched on the only outcrop of rock in the surrounding plain. Its precise origins are still shrouded in mystery as is its primary function. Over time it was undoubtedly used as a watchtower along the main road connecting the Upper Lake Garda and Trento and in defence of the surrounding area then covered in marshland. Studies have recently begun with a view to renovating the tower and allowing access to visitors.
Go for a walk around Dro or take a bicycle or mountain bike and you will discover unique environments such as the MAROCCHE, a lunar landscape of monumental boulders, the result of a series of gigantic landslides
which broke off from Mount Brento and Mount Casale during the Quaternary ice age. Some of these boulders bear the mark of dinosaur footprints (see p. 92). You will also come across orchards where the local speciality plum is grown, grapes from which Vino Santo wine is made, as well as other lakes and power stations such as CENTRALE FIES, part of which is now used as a residence for artists and performance area for contemporary drama festivals.
