Cà de la Val Summer Matinées

A cultural salon in a historic sawmill

The Cà de la Val Summer Matinées are a seasonal cultural series held in Piazzo, a hamlet of Segonzano, in the Val di Cembra, within the autonomous province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige). The heart of the initiative is Cà de la Val, a historic Venetian-style sawmill located along the Regnana stream at its confluence with the Avisio. This rare masonry building was restored by owner Giuseppe Calliari—a musician, musicologist, and poet—and inaugurated as a cultural space in the summer of 2022.

The Sunday morning format

Every Sunday morning throughout the summer, Cà de la Val presents a unique event: author talks, book presentations, poetry readings, musical performances, exhibitions, and lectures. The common thread is a focus on storytelling, poetry, and the social, economic, and artistic history of the region. Events take place in an intimate setting spread over three levels: an exhibition space, a meeting hall with a large archway opening to the outdoors, and an upper floor currently housing a growing library collection.

A venue that tells the story of the land

The Venetian-style sawmill belongs to the 19th-century production traditions of Trentino, when dozens of these water-powered mills processed timber from the wooded valleys. Cà de la Val recovers this heritage and places it back at the center of community life, hosting writers, poets, historians, and artists from both near and far. The series is a collaboration between Giuseppe Calliari’s private initiative and Trentino Cultura, the cultural department of the Autonomous Province of Trento.

How to experience the series

The matinées are designed for curious audiences who love culture and the mountains. The natural surroundings—the stone bridge, the gorge carved by the Regnana stream, and the forests of the Val di Cembra—are an integral part of the experience. Visitors can combine the event with a walk to the nearby Pyramids of Segonzano, one of Trentino's most famous geological phenomena, or explore the terraced vineyards that define the valley's landscape.