The Night of the Lit Stills

The Trentino capital of grappa lights up

In the heart of the Valle dei Laghi, just minutes from Lake Garda, the tiny village of Santa Massenza — a hamlet of the Vallelaghi municipality in the province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige) — boasts a density of distilleries unique in Italy. Within a handful of houses, five historic family-run distilleries are concentrated, making this village the recognized capital of Trentino artisan grappa. Every year, in the days leading up to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the town transforms into a widespread stage for The Night of the Lit Stills.

An itinerant theatrical performance

The formula that made the event famous is that of the itinerant theatrical performance. The audience, divided into small groups and equipped with radio headsets, is guided from distillery to distillery along the village streets. The narrator is the well-known television host Patrizio Roversi, accompanied by a theater company that brings a series of acted episodes to life. Each stop, lasting about twenty minutes, takes place inside a different distillery and tells the story of grappa, the art of distillation, and village life with irony and poetry.

The five protagonist distilleries

The route passes through the village's five distilleries, each with its own traditions and products:

• Distilleria Giovanni Poli
• Distilleria Casimiro
• Distilleria Francesco
• Distilleria Giulio & Mauro (Maxentia)
• Distilleria Maxentia

At each stop, the audience enjoys a small tasting of different versions of the spirit, accompanied by local Trentino sweets and specialties. The show culminates with the final scene in the village square, featuring the famous grappa flame choreography.

A signature event of the Valle dei Laghi

Organized by the Santa Massenza Piccola Nizza de Trent Cultural Association in collaboration with Trentino Marketing and the Trentino Wine and Flavors Route, The Night of the Lit Stills has become one of the most anticipated food, wine, and cultural events of the Trentino autumn-winter season. The event combines theater, artisan tradition, and the culture of responsible drinking, attracting visitors from all over Italy to the village of Vallelaghi every year, for whom online booking is mandatory due to limited group capacity.