Balbido and Rango International Wood Sculpture Symposium

An art symposium among the most beautiful villages in Trentino

The Balbido and Rango International Wood Sculpture Symposium is one of the longest-running and most distinctive cultural events in the Outer Giudicarie, in the Municipality of Bleggio Superiore (Province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige). Established in 1989, the event takes place every summer, between July and August, transforming the squares and streets of the two ancient villages into an open-air sculpture workshop for a week.

How a work of art is born

The mechanism of the symposium is as simple as it is fascinating. Starting from a raw wooden log and a common theme chosen by the organizers, each sculptor creates an original work in just a few days, working outdoors in front of the public. Visitors can thus observe the entire creative process up close, from the initial roughing out to the finishing touches, engaging with the artists and discovering techniques and tools of the trade.

• National and international sculptors invited every year
• A week of live work in the squares of Balbido and Rango
• A different theme for each edition, inspiring all the works
• Final awards ceremony with a jury and special mentions

Balbido and Rango, the painted villages

The setting is that of two jewels of the Giudicarie. Balbido is known as the "painted village": since 1987, it has joined Rango in the 'Paesi Dipinti' (Painted Villages) Association, featuring a mural trail that winds in a figure-eight shape, telling the story of daily life and local traditions. Rango, with its vaulted passages, porticoes, and stone courtyards, is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. The sculptures created during the symposium remain on permanent display along the village streets, forming a true open-air museum over the years.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Municipality of Bleggio Superiore together with the La Ceppaia Cultural Group and the Rango Valorization Association, with the support of local tourism entities in the Comano area. The symposium is an opportunity to combine art, the enhancement of village heritage, and the culture of wood, a defining material of the Trentino region.

An event for the whole family

Strolling through Balbido and Rango during the symposium week means immersing yourself in a unique atmosphere: the scent of freshly worked wood, the sound of chisels, the murals on the facades, and the works taking shape day after day. A free, open-air experience suitable for the curious, art lovers, and families, set in one of the most authentic landscapes in Trentino.