Description
The Scanuppia State Forest has broad basal slopes covered with broadleaf forest, then, higher up, pastures and meadows, mixed forest and summit expanses where rhododendron, dwarf pine and high-altitude shrubs favour the permanence and spread of tetraonidae stand out.
The higher portion of the plateau highlights the calcareous nature of the substratum and the spread of moraine beds that soften the general morphology of the site.
The management of the Reserve is carried out by the Provincial Agency of State Forests, which takes care of the planning, programming and execution of interventions.
The recent restoration of Malga Palazzo has provided a structure for study, research and promotional meetings.
From a forestry point of view, spruce is dominant in association with silver fir and beech, which above 1750 metres leave vast open spaces for grazing. At higher altitudes, the larch finds an elective habitat and enriches the forest with its intense and distinctive colours. Pure larch spreads above 1900 metres in altitude up to the watershed ridge.
The Scanuppia State Forest has always been of great interest to wildlife, especially due to the significant presence of capercaillie and black grouse, but also chamois and roe deer, eagles, black grouse and martens.
Hunting is currently prohibited in the entire reserve.
Within the Forest, you will find Malga Imprech with its eponymous alpine pastureland, which is still grazed, and the splendid Renaissance building of Malga Palazzo, built in 1589 and recently restored.
Access to the alpine pasture from Besenello is via a very steep cemented road, 7.5 kilometres long with an altitude difference of 1317 metres. The road is closed to motor traffic as well as to cyclists and bikers.
The name
It is a deformation of the original Cimbrian place name Laitterperg (Leiterberg), meaning Ladder Mountain. From Scalucla, Scalucola, Scanucia, Little Staircase. This is due to the presence of the numerous access ramps that once contained several steps to facilitate the ascent. Today, the road is cemented, but here and there one can still see signs of the steps and vertical tracks where wagons and sledges used to pass for transporting timber and hay to the valley.
History
Since the early Renaissance, the noble Austrian family of the Trapp Counts, owners of the entire area including the Castel Beseno below, had destined the Scanuppia mountain to become their mountain estate to be used as an alpine pasture, timber supply, holiday resort and exclusive hunting reserve where chamois, roe deer and grouse abounded.
At the centre of the estate, high up, Malga Palazzo was built in 1589, a singular expression of fortified mountain architecture, in masonry and wood, 400 square metres in area, recently restored and brought back to its original formal character. The 'Casa di sua Signoria illustrissima' (House of His Illustrious Lordship), as mentioned in documents of the 17th century, became a point of reference for the entire local community from that time on. In times of crisis, in fact, between wars and conflicts, floods and inundations, it continued to provide work, milk and derivatives to the people of Vallagarina and the surrounding area.
In the immediate vicinity of the Malga, the Trapp Counts themselves had a second building constructed, destined to house the cattle.
In 1990, the Autonomous Province of Trento acquired the entire area from Count Osvaldo Trapp, which was subsequently subjected to protection by a Decree of the Provincial Council as the 'Scanuppia-Monte Vigolana Guided Reserve'.
Then, following Provincial Law no. 11 of May 2007, the entire protected area was included among the Provincial Nature Reserves.
Publications
- Umberto Raffaelli (edited by): Il Palazzo sulla montagna di Scanuppia, pp. 159, Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici, Autonomous Province of Trento, TRENTO 2008
