The Soul of the Villages – Val di Peio Festivals

A journey into the heart of the hamlets

The Soul of the Villages – Val di Peio Festivals is not just a single event, but a collective narrative of the local festivals that animate the summer in the Municipality of Peio, in the Province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige). Situated in the upper Val di Sole, within the Stelvio National Park, Val di Peio preserves small mountain hamlets—Cogolo, Peio Paese, Peio Fonti, Celledizzo, Celentino, Comasine, and Strombiano—each with its own church, patron saint, and unique festival.

The tradition of village festivals

Since ancient times, every village in the valley has solemnly celebrated the patron saint of its church. Beyond the religious aspect—featuring mass, processions, and brass bands—the festival is primarily a folkloric and community event: it is a time for the village to celebrate, where families reunite and visitors are welcomed as guests. These events are organized by the youth groups of each hamlet, who act as guardians of an identity passed down through generations.

Genuine mountain flavors

The gastronomic heart of these festivals is traditional Trentino cuisine, served in marquees and designated areas in the center of the villages. Signature dishes that define these evenings include:

• grilled meats;
• barley soup, a symbolic dish of alpine tradition;
• spätzle and other mountain specialties;
• local desserts and dairy products from the valley, home to the last turn-based dairy in Trentino at Peio Paese.

Music, folklore, and community

Each festival blends the sacred with the secular: mass and processions are followed by live concerts, DJ sets, dance evenings with folk groups and dance orchestras, as well as activities for families and children. It is a direct and authentic way to connect with the soul of Val di Peio, far from mass tourism.

A territory to discover

Participating in these village festivals also means discovering a precious corner of Trentino: the Peio thermal baths, the trails of the Stelvio National Park, the hamlet ecomuseums, and the traditional crafts of the valley. The Soul of the Villages is the perfect opportunity to experience the mountains in their truest form: that of a shared celebration.