International Wood Sculpture Symposium "Predaia Art and Nature"

An open-air museum at the Coredo lakes

The International Wood Sculpture Symposium "Predaia Art and Nature" is one of the most evocative cultural events of the summer in Val di Non. It takes place in the heart of the larch forest surrounding the Coredo lakes, in the Coredo district of the Predaia municipality, in the Province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige). Here, you don't visit art in a gallery: you encounter it while walking along the Viale dei Sogni (Avenue of Dreams), a gentle, flat path accessible to families, children, and people with reduced mobility.

The origins of the symposium

The project is rooted in the experience of the "Il legno riprende vita" (Wood comes back to life) competition, which animated Coredo for several editions before evolving into the current international symposium. Each year, a group of sculptors—selected based on their project proposals—is invited to work live on larch wood blocks in front of the public, using chisels and hand tools. At the end of the event, the works are permanently placed along the paths branching off from the Viale dei Sogni on Corten steel bases. This is how, edition after edition, a true permanent artistic-environmental trail has been created, which today boasts over forty wood sculptures and four installations.

Between wood sculpture and land art

The historic artistic direction of the symposium is entrusted to Gianni Mascotti of Studio Marte, who is also the author of the iconic work "Le Streghe" (The Witches) that welcomes visitors at the entrance of the trail: three female figures recalling the witchcraft trials of the 17th-century Anaunia region. In recent years, the initiative has expanded its scope, complementing the tradition of wood sculpture with land art works designed to engage directly with the landscape, created using natural, sustainable materials with a low environmental impact.

A slow experience, between art and nature

Visiting the Predaia Art and Nature trail means treating yourself to a contemplative walk: the route starts from the "Alla Torre" park above Coredo and reaches the Tavon and Coredo lakes, entering a dense spruce forest. It is an invitation to slow down and let yourself be surprised by the encounter between crafted wood and the forest. Entrance to the trail is free, and the initiative is promoted by ASUC Coredo in collaboration with the Municipality of Predaia.