Malga Borcola Alpine Festival

An alpine festival at Passo della Borcola

The Malga Borcola Festival is one of the most cherished summer events for the community of Terragnolo, a small town in the Leno Valley in the province of Trento, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige. Organized by the Terragnolo ANA Alpini Group, the festival takes place at Malga Borcola, at an altitude of 1,208 meters, right at the mountain pass connecting the Leno Valley to the Posina Valley on the Vicenza side.

The setting: pastures, mountain huts, and the Great War

Malga Borcola, owned by the Municipality of Terragnolo, is set in a fascinating landscape of high-altitude pastures and the historic trails of the Great War. Until 1918, the Passo della Borcola marked the state border between Italy and Austria: to this day, visitors can explore nearby military fortifications and structures from the First World War, while gazing out toward the Pasubio massif. Not far from the provincial road stands a small alpine chapel, built by the local Alpini Group, which adds a sense of peace to the entire area.

Farm-to-table mountain flavors

The heart of the festival is the table. Malga Borcola is a working dairy farm that produces genuine, locally-made products: cheeses, yogurt, butter, meat, and eggs, preserved by the managers as a precious mountain tradition. On the day of the festival, there is no shortage of alpine specialties — homemade gnocchi, polenta, and traditional mountain dishes — served in a joyful, convivial atmosphere that brings together valley residents, hikers, and the many loyal visitors who make the trip up.

An event of the "Terragnolo Summer" calendar

The Malga Borcola Festival is part of the Terragnolo Summer program, a series of events that brings the town and the Leno Valleys (Terragnolo, Trambileno, and Vallarsa) to life during the warmer months. It is the perfect opportunity to combine the festival with a hike: the mountain hut is an ideal starting point for scenic walks toward Mount Pasubio and along the Peace Trail.

How to enjoy the day

The formula is that of a genuine mountain hut festival: drive up to Passo della Borcola in the morning, join the convivial gathering with the Alpini, enjoy a lunch of mountain flavors, and spend the afternoon wandering the pastures, perhaps combining it with a walk along the historic trails. It is an authentic way to discover the alpine soul of Terragnolo and the most genuine side of Trentino.