Ala

Surrounded by vineyards and a network of routes and itineraries that can be followed on foot and by bicycle, Ala is a town of very ancient origins at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, in the lower Vallagarina. Famous for the production and trade of silk velvets in the 18th century, Ala has a pleasantly Baroque centre with courtyards, gardens and paved streets with a typically medieval urban layout. Notable buildings include the Church of the Assunta, Palazzo Angelini and Palazzo de' Pizzini, where Napoleon and Mozart stayed and now home to the Museum of the Ancient Piano. There are 67 fountains, underlining the primary importance of water: a symbol of welcome for wayfarers then, they are also a symbol for visitors today. Ala comes to life every year in July on the occasion of Ala Città di Velluto (Ala Velvet City), a costume festival that evokes the memory of the era. Squares, palaces and gardens open up to performances of art, music, poetry and history.