The Gruppo Folcloristico di Mezzano is the first, and most distinguished and respected group of its kind in the Trentino region.

They recently celebrated their 80th anniversary.

THE ALPINE ADVENTURE AGENCY

CAST AND CREW

We are so lucky and excited to have the best "cast and crew" participating in our vacations and we wanted to introduce them to you!  Any of these wonderful people and their specialties, and/or places can be included in a custom-designed, dream vacation for you!

Let the roll call begin!

Click on their names to see existing websites.

ALESSANDRO SIMON

Ciao! My name is Alessandro Simon and I am the Alpine Adventure Agency's full-time Regional Consultant and Photography Instructor.  I accompany you on every group activity led by Daniela Anderson, offering photographic advice and suggestions, sharing regional tidbits, and addressing requests made by our guests.

My family has lived in San Martino di Castrozza since the middle of the 1800’s, and had operated two farms which are now closed.  I always have worked in the tourism sector, and I devote my free time to alpine excursions and nature/ outdoor photography.  I cross-country ski in the winter.  I never attended a formal photography school, but my great passion for nature has allowed me to obtain great results.  I also love minerals and fossils, but not to the exclusion of good wine and Italian cooking!  Editor’s note: Alessandro’s work is well-known in the area and his gallery shows are exceptional. Click here to see some of Alessandro's work.

I BEATRICH

The Beatrich are made up of three incredibly talented men who are dedicated to the preservation of the music, song and lyrics, and tradition of the Jodler (Yodel) in the Italian  Alps and surrounding areas.  They have enjoyed enormous success and are highly sought after as entertainers throughout Northern Italy.  Brothers Renzo and Andrea Franceschinel play guitar and bass, and Nicola Svaizer plays the accordian.  Their 3 CD's have had unprecedented success in this region of Italy, and their music has been featured in numerous venues, including an episode of Girovagando in Trentino.

Click here to hear a 30 second sound byte of the Beatrich yodelling!

THE AQUILE (EAGLES) DI SAN MARTINO

The Aquile (Eagles)  di San Martino are the legendary, elite corps of alpine guides in San Martino.  They are considered among the most skilled in the world, and many have reached the summit of renown peaks in other parts of the globe.  These alpine guides are available to lead guests in all types of high mountain activities, from easy walks to climbing excursions of the most difficult grade level.

IL GRUPPO FOLCLORISTICO DI MEZZANO

This group is made up of dancers and musicians who perform traditional Tyrolean dances and music.  They are sought out highly not only throughout the region, but also in other countries in Europe.  This group recently celebrated its 80th anniversary and is considered to be the first and most distinguished group of its kind in the Trentino region.  Click here to see an excerpt of them performing.  Go to 17:00 minutes in the video to see their segment.

RENZO AND SILVANO ZENI, WOOD SCULPTORS

If you travel through the Eurotunnel that connects France and England, you should stop and take a look at  two large sculptures, one metre eighty centimeters tall, one at each entrance, because they were made in the Zeni Studios in the Primiero Valley.   The two Zeni brothers, who both hold diplomas in art from the prestigious Pozza di Fassa Institute of Art, form religious figures and scenes of rural life out of wood - objects of absolute beauty inspired by the extraordinary sensitivity of the sculptors that seems to have been gifted to them by nature. When we look at their works, the dividing line between art and crafts becomes utterly confused.

Silvano Zeni is the younger of the two brothers, and is most fascinated by classical sculptures of large dimensions that are carved deeply.  Every now and then, he organizes courses in wood sculpting for schools and for adults, with a growing number of students applying to each subsequent session.  Silvano's other interests include a passion for the theater and acting in local productions, a passion inherited from his father.

Renzo Zeni is the older of the two brothers.  After graduating from the Institute of Art of Pozza di Fassa, he worked in the Alto Adige region with two sculptors of the Val Gardena.  He started the studio, Zeni Renzosculture in legno in 1984.  His brother, Silvano, joined him in 1986.  After the death of "old Yori," in the 1950's, the Primiero Valley saw the disappearance of traditional, artigianal wood sculpting typical of these alpine valleys.  It can be said with great pride that Renzo Zeni revived and re-introduced this lost art form back to the valley after a long absence.  He has organized courses in sculpting and carving and he intends to organize more in the future.  He currently sits on the city's Councils for Tourism, Sport and Culture for the Borough of Mezzano.  He has participated in various gallery shows both in Italy and abroad.  His artwork has won the prestigious  International Competition and Prize named for Luigi Negrelli, a Primiero native who became an engineer and authored the plans for the Suez Canal. He uses all traditional sculpting tools in his work.

The sculptures of both brothers are certified by the Consortium for Artigianal and Artistic Works of Quality of the Trentino Region, of which Renzo Zeni is a founding member.

The Zeni brothers also create bronze sculptures.  The largest was created by both brothers and portrays a rock climber, over 4 meters tall (over 12 feet tall) and about 3 meters in circumference, and can be found in the area surrounding Colonia.  Their works are scattered all over the world.  The studio's three mottos are: 1. There is no work greater than this in the world;  2. Always focus on the quality of the work;  3. We can do anything that can be done technically to wood - bets fascinate them.

LUCA BRUNET AND THE TIME LABORATORY

The Alpine Adventure Agency is extremely fortunate to have Luca Brunet on board!  He and the Time Laboratory are the authors of all of our custom, informative after-dinner programs and our custom, culturally-focused guided tours of Primiero.  He and his group have allowed us through their knowledge and expertise as recognized authorities in these areas, to provide our guests with an in-depth and intellectual facet to their Alpine Adventure vacation.

Luca was born in Primiero and graduated from the University of Trento.  His thesis focused on Italo Calvino.  He currently teaches High School in the Feltre school district.

Along with the active group called the Time Laboratory (local history nights, myths and legends of the Dolomites, and initiatives for the valorization of historic centers and popular paintings) , Luca curates the activities of local, cultural life, with the scope of promoting the artistic and historical resources of the local territory.

In 1997, he and the Time Laboratory were able to implement successful, guided tours of the painted murals found in Transacqua and Fiera, of Pictor Pinsit.

In 1998, for the Borough of Canal San Bovo, and with the help of his friends from the Time Laboratory, Luca completed a lengthy, iconographic study on the movement of ten popular fresco muralists who were active in the valleys of the Eastern Dolomites beginning in the 1500's.

This delightful mountain farm and orchard is located 1,200 m above sea level and is surrounded by green lawns on the edge of Park Paneveggio Pale St. Martino.  It is owned and run by Gianpietro and Luciana Scalet.  The Scalets welcome their visitors with great enthusiasm which immediately makes you feel like part of the family.

Mamma Luciana is renown for her exquisite dishes that follow the ancient culinary tradition of Primiero.  She utilize products grown or produced on the farm by her family, while the rest of her ingredients are of local or regional origin.  Gianpietro is a legendary alpine guide who took part in the 1976 expedition to the Dhaulagiri.  He still leads hiking and climbing groups and is a wealth of knowledge and information on the area.

The farm was renovated and opened in the spring of 2006.  The "Maso" is located in an excellent position overlooking the valley of Primiero and its beautiful woods and fields. Being surrounded by the Pale St. Martino makes it a great starting point for many local outdoor excursions into the local nature and agriculture.

The Maso is the ideal place to stay for families and  friends who want to relax in the shade of old cherry trees or participate in guided tours and degustations of small fruit.   The Scalets and their farm were featured in an episode of Girovagando in Trentino which can be viewed on the episodes archive page in the Media Gallery.