Palio dela Sloiza

The Palio dela Sloiza in Transacqua

The Palio dela Sloiza is one of the most distinctive traditional events in the Primiero valley, in the province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige). It takes place every year at the end of August in the historic center of Transacqua, a village within the Primiero San Martino di Castrozza municipality, with the heart of the festivities located in Piazza San Marco. The event is organized by the Comitato Iniziative Transacqua in collaboration with the ApT San Martino di Castrozza, Passo Rolle, Primiero e Vanoi tourist board.

What is the sloiza?

The sloiza is a large wooden sled that was once used by Primiero farmers to transport hay, firewood, and field produce down the steep slopes of the Dolomites. The Palio commemorates this daily toil of mountain rural life: teams representing the eight villages of the Primiero valley compete by hauling the loaded sloiza through the village streets, testing their strength, coordination, and skill in a series of challenges inspired by ancient trades.

The challenges

The competition consists of trials that recall the gestures of traditional farming: the transport of the "carga de fen" (the hay load), wood sawing, bell ringing, and other activities that once marked life in the mountain huts. The rivalry between the villages transforms the memory of labor into a moment of play, local pride, and popular participation, highly anticipated by both residents and visitors.

Folklore, gastronomy, and music

A rich program of side events surrounds the race. The Corpo Folkloristico Musicale di Primiero parade accompanies the event with traditional costumes and music, while food stalls offer the flavors of Trentino cuisine: polenta, sausage, melted cheese, cabbage, beans, and the famous "elephant ear" schnitzels. The evenings are enlivened by folk bands and concerts that turn Transacqua into a meeting point for the entire valley.

A tradition of the Dolomites

Born in the 1990s, the Palio dela Sloiza has become a staple of the Primiero summer, capable of passing on the memory of the mountain agricultural world to new generations. In a natural setting of rare beauty, at the foot of the Pale di San Martino, the event tells the story of an alpine community deeply connected to its roots. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced: the event is traditionally held at the end of August.