CamminaMenti Festival (European Via Romea Germanica Festival)

The slow walking festival in Valsugana

The CamminaMenti Festival, also known as the European Via Romea Germanica Festival, takes place in Tenna, a small village nestled on the hill between Lake Levico and Lake Caldonazzo in Valsugana, within the Autonomous Province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige. The event is dedicated to the art of slow walking and the rediscovery of the Via Romea Germanica, the grand pilgrimage route connecting Stade, Germany, to Rome: approximately 2,200 kilometers spanning three countries and dozens of stages, following in the footsteps of Abbot Albert of Stade who traveled this path in 1236 to reach the Pope.

The roots of the festival

Launched in 2022 by the Pro Loco of Tenna, the festival has become an annual late-summer highlight. The second edition was held in August 2023, and the third took place on August 31st and September 1st, 2024. The festival is organized by the Pro Loco in collaboration with the municipal administration of Tenna, the Valsugana Lagorai Tourist Board, local associations, and the European Association of the Via Romea Germanica, which recognizes Tenna as one of the key Italian stops on this route.

The typical program

The heart of the event is the guided hike starting from the historic Forte di Tenna, an Austro-Hungarian fortification dating back to the Great War, offering a chance to discover the natural, historical, and scenic treasures of the area. Various activities revolve around this core experience:

• The Fort Hike: a guided morning excursion through the fortifications and woods of the Tenna hill.
• Festival Talks: meetings with authors, historians, and travelers on the themes of walking, slowness, and the memory of places.
• The Pilgrim's Dinner: a themed dinner featuring traditional dishes served in the halls, accompanied by live music.
• CamminaMenti for Kids: games and activities dedicated to children in the Fort's park.
• Picnics on the Fort's lawn, visits to the fortification, and, in past editions, the Gravitenna biròc race, a lighthearted race of homemade wooden carts through the village streets.

A European path passing through Tenna

The festival is more than just a local fair: it is a way to share the European dimension of the Via Romea Germanica and the value of pilgrimage on foot as an experience of knowledge and encounter. Tenna, with its Fort, the Church of the Annunciation, and views over the two Valsugana lakes, is a charming stop on this itinerary and offers visitors an ideal setting to combine nature, history, and the culture of walking.

Dates for the 2026 edition

The CamminaMenti Festival is traditionally held over the weekend straddling the end of August and the beginning of September. The official dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced: for the updated program, it is recommended to follow the Pro Loco of Tenna's channels and the Valsugana tourist portal.