Fontanazzo Village Festival

A mountain festival in the heart of Val di Fassa

The Fontanazzo Village Festival is the traditional event that enlivens the most populous hamlet of the municipality of Mazzin, in Val di Fassa, every summer, within the Trentino-Alto Adige region (Province of Trento). It is a small, authentic community celebration, far from the crowds of major tourist events: here, the focus is on religious devotion, Ladin music, and the sense of belonging of an alpine village with roots spanning over eight centuries.

Fontanazzo, one of the oldest names in the valley

Fontanazzo is the largest hamlet of Mazzin and boasts one of the oldest toponyms in the entire Val di Fassa: it is already mentioned in documents dating back to 1142. The name derives from the Ladin term fontanac, which indicates land rich in spring water. The village gathers around its church, founded in 1638 and dedicated to the Madonna del Carmine, recognizable by its characteristic bell tower covered in wooden shingles. In the square, there is also the bronze monument el Pèster de Fascia (the Shepherd of Fassa), created in 1983, a symbol of the pastoral tradition that has defined life in the valley for centuries.

The festival program

The day of celebration maintains a simple structure, faithful to tradition:

• in the morning, the celebration of Holy Mass in the small church of the Madonna del Carmine, the spiritual heart of the village;
• following this, musical entertainment in the square in front of the town hall, with a performance by a local band or musical group that joins the community for a convivial outdoor gathering.

The Fontanazzo town hall building, decorated with a fresco of Saint Mary Magdalene and reliefs depicting traditional crafts, provides a picturesque backdrop for the musical portion of the festival.

An opportunity to discover the Upper Fassa Valley

Those attending the Fontanazzo Festival can take the opportunity to explore the Upper Val di Fassa and the surrounding Dolomites. The event, organized by the Antermoia Cultural Association, is free to attend and represents a genuine way to connect with Ladin culture, mountain religious traditions, and the hospitality of the small villages in the municipality of Mazzin.