Arte Sella – Fucina Arte Sella

An open-air museum in Val di Sella

Arte Sella is one of the most original contemporary art experiences in Italy: an open-air museum founded in 1986 in Val di Sella, a side valley of the Valsugana that opens above the town of Borgo Valsugana, in the province of Trento. Over the course of four decades, Italian and international artists, architects, musicians, and writers have been invited to interpret the genius loci, creating both ephemeral and permanent works built from natural materials such as wood, branches, stones, and leaves, destined to evolve and eventually be reabsorbed by the forest.

The artworks and the ArteNatura trail

The heart of the experience is the Malga Costa exhibition area, in Val di Sella, connected to Villa Strobele by the historic ArteNatura trail that winds through the woods. Among the iconic works, the Vegetal Cathedral by Giuliano Mauri stands out—a monumental living architecture formed by columns of branches within which real trees grow. Following the damage caused by the Vaia storm, the ArteNatura trail was reopened, restoring the entire nature-immersed itinerary to the public.

The Fucina Arte Sella

The annual program revolves around the Fucina Arte Sella, a project conceived by cellist Mario Brunello that brings together established artists and young students in a laboratory spread across art, music, and landscape. Throughout the season, which runs from spring to autumn, the schedule features concerts, contemporary dance performances, poetry readings, meetings with artists, and events dedicated to architecture and design, hosted between Malga Costa, Villa Strobele, and the center of Borgo Valsugana.

A dialogue between man and nature

Arte Sella is not just an exhibition, but a journey "made of people, encounters, and works" that has always sought to bridge the gap between humanity and nature. Walking along the trail means discovering installations that are born, change, and transform with the passing seasons, in a continuous relationship with the forest of Trentino-Alto Adige. The experience combines the contemplation of contemporary art with the beauty of the mountain environment of Valsugana.

An international landmark

Internationally recognized, Arte Sella welcomes thousands of visitors from all over Europe every year and represents a model of land art and dialogue between creativity and the territory. Its ecological vocation is also reflected in reforestation projects and a deep bond with the community of Borgo Valsugana and the alpine identity of Trentino.