Young firefighters and audience from 22 countries are gathering this week by the beautiful Borgo Valsugana in Trento
In the photo above you can see the flags of the competing nations hanging over the audience stand.
53 competing teams with more than 630 competitors and 66 judges from 22 nations are gathering in the heart of Europe and the Italian Dolomites
within the Autonomous Province of Trento.
The beautiful Borgo Valsugana is the setting for this years edition of the CTIF Young Firefighters Competitions which run from July 21 to July 28.
On Monday the first training day was held and also the opening of the exhibition of historical firefighting items
In the evening there was a ceremonial opening on the main square
CTIF even has it's name and logo on the castle tower of Borgo Valsugana
together with a rich history and culture are waiting for champions and audience from around the world in the 24th International CTIF Young Firefighters Competitions!Let's brighten up our territory in this edition of the International Young Firefighters Competition
Read more about the CTIF competitions in Italy here
On Tuesday the whole day was scheduled for the second training sessions
WEdnesday will be the last training day before the Competitions begin on Wednesday July 24.
Several vice presidents are on location in Trentino and CTIF.org will report with photos
videos and text updates throughout the week
The actual results from the competitions will be published at a future date when the event has been summarized.
As usual, the host country is providing a streaming link where those not present can follow the activities live from a professional camera team during the week.
Watch the live stream from CTIF 2024
The cover photo above is by CTIF vice president Nedeljko Vukalović
Other featured photos also provided by vice president Christophe Marshal
The video below is by CTIF vice president Christophe Marshal
and is from the opening parade on Monday July 22.
Most of the photos are from the official CTIF2024 Facebook Page
We will feature only a small selection here on CTIF.org so please connect with us Facebook to see more photos from the Trento Competitions in Italy
Connect with CTIF2024 in Trentino on Facebook
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© 2017 International Association of Fire and Rescue Services
Trentino is an ancient valley full of history and natural beauty
It is the ideal place for those who love nature and relaxation
and has a landscape that is home to nature trails
particularly Lake Caldonazzo and Lake Levico
where it is possible to enjoy water sports in their crystal-clear waters
Valsugana is also a place of ancient history
Among the peaks of its mountains you can find Pergine Castle and Telvana Castle
which dominate the valley and bear witness to ancient stories and battles
The area is also littered with traces of World War I
with striking fortresses such as Fort Busa Granda
the valley features nature trails in the green
several hiking trails that lead to picture-perfect views such as the Saltoni del Zengelo and Forcella Magna
The Valsugana is also known for the Saddle Art contemporary art park
an appointment with art in an open-air museum that houses works by various contemporary and international artists
we have selected ten places to visit at least once in Valsugana
Lake CaldonazzoLake Caldonazzo is an ideal retreat for those seeking relaxation surrounded by nature
With beaches with surveillance service and fully equipped bathing establishments
it is the largest basin located in Trentino
The lake offers the opportunity to practice water sports and take relaxing walks along the shore or among the mountains
It is a perfect place to enjoy carefree moments with family
which reach their maximum splendor in spring
The trail consists of forests with exotic plants from different parts of the world and flower meadows
The trail is perfect for those seeking a day of tranquility in the great outdoors
Saddle Art is among the most popular destinations in Valsugana
an open-air museum that houses works of art created by international artists: Giuliano Mauri
and Edoardo Tresoldi are just some of the names of the artists who have left their works in the three areas of the park (Malga Costa
The uniqueness of the projects lies in the use of natural materials such as branches and stones
the works integrate with the environment and change over time and grow from year to year along with the landscape of the park
The ancient Orc Bridge has a compelling story
a shepherd returning to the village after a day’s work found the road blocked by an overhang
It was at that moment that an ogre appeared and offered him a deal: his soul in exchange for a solid stone bridge
The walk starts from the center of Ivano Fracena
and continues for fifty minutes with an elevation gain of 250 meters
and those who plan to experience moments of isolation from population centers
Levico Terme is one of the most charming villages in Valsugana
known for its tranquil atmosphere and thermal waters
The historic center of Levico retains the charm of an alpine village that blends tradition and mundane modernity
Levico Terme is most famous for its thermal baths
which have been frequented since the 19th century: they have attracted European high society over time
contributing to the town’s growth as an elite tourist destination
Created during the Austro-Hungarian period
it is one of the largest historic gardens in Trentino and is perfect for relaxing walks among century-old trees and colorful flowers
Levico Terme also offers many cultural and traditional events
Also not to be missed is a visit to Lake Levico to spend a peaceful afternoon
Castel Pergine in Valsugana was built around 1200 and for centuries was considered the gateway to the valley
the manor was used as a hangout for followers of theosophy
such as the American Annie Halderman: in fact
the woman thought she had lived a past life inside the fortress
the manor is cared for by an association that bought it in 2018 and planned to add to its spaces a hotel
ideal for those who want to enjoy local delicacies in a mysterious place
is one of the great historical relics of the First World War
still remaining an evocative place and especially perfect for history lovers
Austrian soldiers defended the valley from the advancing Italians
Getting to Lake Forcella Magna is not complicated
The route includes a path along a historic mule track
formed in the past to supply Italian soldiers with provisions and ammunition positioned on mountain tops
presents a rather practical route that leads to visits to some old military posts
you can reach a heart-shaped pond: undoubtedly a romantic place
especially suitable for couples ready to experience moments of rest
Borgo Valsugana is dominated by Telvana Castle
an ancient fortress positioned at a strategic point in the valley
one can walk the “castle trail,” which begins in the center of Borgo
The ancient Roman settlement has a history closely linked to that of the castle
which makes the walk a leap into the past and the history of the valley
To this day only a few ruins remain of the fortress including the curtains joining the ramparts and its inner rooms
is the only cave in Trentino to date that has the right equipment for guided tours
The cave is located on the right bank of the Senaiga River
and is a rock formation of karst nature with ancient galleries
The cave’s uniqueness also features signs carved into the wall
probably attributable to Ursus Speleus Ros
the Cave of Castello Tesino represents the only place to preserve evidence through fossils and various fragments of the animal’s presence in prehistoric times
The Italian artista Edoardo Tresoldi (Cambiago
1987) has produced a site-specific work for Arte Sella sculpture park
the translucent volume of Simbiosi is part of Tresoldi’s studies on the experiential perception of space and the architecture-nature relationship
5-meter-tall sculptural installation embraces the transparency of Absent Matter
expressed through wire mesh and the materiality of local stones
Inverting the organic deterioration process of remains
the ‘suspended ruin’ embodies the mental shape
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Val Sella is a diminutive valley located in the the Valsugana region of Trentino. Peppered with tiny clusters of cottages and hotels but devoid of any substantial villages, it nevertheless contains one of the most intriguing art gardens in Italy
local artists began exhibiting their artwork in the woods of Val Sella
the one-off exhibition turned into a biannual event
But it wasn’t until 1996 that the exhibition became permanent
with a trail called the Percorso Artenatura entirely devoted to leading visitors through the unique sylvan gallery
approximately 30 installations can be admired along the trail. The underlying theme of Arte Sella is that all the exhibits are created using locally found materials—i.e
Some art pieces are even interwoven with live plants and trees
making them alive and ever-changing. Art is
inserted and subjected to the living cycle of the surrounding environment.
Visiting this exhibition means taking in the mastery of the artists blended in with the beauty
making it a quintessential multisensory experience
Note that not all the items in the photographs can always be seen all the time
check the Arte Sella website (www.artesella.it) if you want to find out what's on display at any given time
and their tools at this surprising sculpture park
Moss-covered sculptures fill this small Brazilian gorge
site-specific sculptures sitting in the Montana woods
open-air art exhibit featuring world-renowned sculptures hides in plain sight on the outskirts of Orlando
Art blooms at this unique outdoor gallery along the banks of the Arkansas River
peeing self-portrait protests unequal inheritance rights
Take a stroll through this centuries-old tunnel of enormous moss-hung evergreens
nestled among the grounds of America’s first public sculpture garden
A fibreglass sculpture of a whale shark on the grounds of a petrol station
Colossal
On designing Reservoir, Grade (previously) studied the Park’s ecosystem
carefully planning the installation in harmony with the surrounding landscape
“I became most interested in the way rain falls through this grove of trees
the canopy delaying the droplet’s journey to the ground as well as how quiet and sheltered the forest was during a heavy rain,” Grade tells Colossal
“I wanted to make a sculpture that responded to the rain directly as well as a sculpture that responded to people.”
Reservoir is constructed from heat-formed plastic parts framed with steam-bent strips of Alaskan yellow cedar
Each droplet is attached to marine nets with fishing line which are then incorporated with stainless steel rings to maintain tensions and support the tree trunks above the structure
The shape of the translucent droplets are formed from casts of human hands cupped together
“We cast ten different people’s hands for variations in scale,” Grade explains
When rain falls or snow lands the water accumulates within Reservoir’s clear pouches
it rises back into its original structure as the liquid evaporates
“The sculpture rises and falls with precipitation differently each time it rains or snows,” says Grade
Springs below the installation limit the vertical range of movement
so Reservoir always remains 10 feet above the forest floor
The dry sculpture in its original configuration weighs 70 pounds
Reservoir serves as a water resource for the surrounding landscape: when the water it holds evaporates
it creates a humid environment for the surrounding vegetation to flourish
Movement also manipulates the structure of Reservoir
Arte Sella connected Grade with Andrea Rampazzo
where four dancers would interact with the sculpture
making the installation rise and fall depending on their movements
“Each tree has a cable connecting the net to the ground running down its length via pulleys which can either engage the spring limiting its downward trajectory to 12 feet of movement or bypass the spring to a second pulley near the base of the tree at waist height,” Grade explains
“This way the dancers can pull or release any of the nine lines to create varied movement in the sculpture.”
the dance lasted 45 minutes and was performed three times during the day
“The four dancers also had the assistance of four members of my studio team to help work the lines during the performance,” says Grade
the dancers brought the sculpture down to two feet from the ground
so their bodies were fully immersed in the thousands of droplet-like forms
the dancers were able to abruptly jerk the movements and shower themselves with water,” Grade explains
“Now we can watch the sculpture collect and release and move over the seasons and build upon those nuances to create a second installation
Wind may become a significant inspiration the next time.”
You can view more of Grade’s work on his website, or visit his Instagram page
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Arte Sella is a large Nature Art exhibition visible in the woods and meadows of Val di Sella in Borgo Valsugana
Arte Sella is a magical place where art and nature have been coming together and merging for over 30 years
this open-air museum is enriched with new works by international artists invited to create their Art in Nature works
made exclusively with natural elements from the area: rock
These works are then completed and shaped by nature and the passing seasons: here art is integrated and becomes something alive and changing
Arte Sella has become part of international networks such as Elan (European Land Art Network) and Grandi Giardini Italiani
hidden in the woods or resting on the sides of the valley
a gothic cathedral with 12 m high naves and 80 columns of interwoven branches occupying an area of 1,220 square metres
in which it is possible to enter and dream of flying
There are three routes that lead you to admire the works of art created in Val di Sella: the Malga Costa area
the Montura path and the Villa Strobele garden route
the Vegetal Cathedral and the Sella Theatre "Il Cubo"
the Trabucco di Montagna and the Terzo Paradiso - La trincea della pace
At Malga Costa there is a refreshment point
services and an area accessible to the disabled who can reach it by car
The flat ring is about 1 km long and hosts about fifty works
The Sentiero Montura connects the garden of Villa Strobele with the area of Malga Costa
It is 4 km long and is suitable for a family walk to immerse yourself in the nature of the valley.
The last path is around Villa Strobele and its garden
where you can admire other works created by world-famous architects
This is where the idea for Arte Sella was initially born
Sky Museum is the new Arte Sella project in collaboration with the Municipality of Borgo Valsugana
which has led to the creation of a series of art installations in the historic centre of Borgo Valsugana
For the first time three artistic work are present in the town centre
marking the start of a multi-year project to enhance the architectural and landscape qualities
The first work was commissioned to the English artist Stuart Ian Frost who
decided to use a large oak tree felled by a heavy storm
located in the garden of the Istituto d'istruzione superiore Alcide de Gasperi (Alcide de Gasperi High School)
consists of two large trunks from the same tree
The significance of this creation invites us to understand the fragility of nature and to take care of it
a succession of four-metre high wire mesh volumes for the "Casa della Comunità" in Borgo Valsugana
The installation reveals the decorative features of four Renaissance-inspired aedicules
conceived as an inverse expression of form
Usually conceived as an ornament to the building
the aedicules become the antithesis of their own function and
prepare to welcome the changing succession of natural phenomena and celebrate the landscape
French artist Cédric Le Borgne has proposed a light
This too is made of wire mesh and is placed near the Venetian bridge
thus creating a visual continuity with Edoardo Tresoldi's work and drawing the observer's attention to the river Brenta and its relationship with the mountain horizon
framed by the profiles of the houses in the historic centre
Malga Costa area and Vegetable CathedralNovember
During the winter period the visit to Arte Sella starts at the Malga Costa area
The times are indicative and may vary depending on weather conditions
We recommend that you call +39 0461 761029 (Malga Costa) or the administration office +39 0461 751251
Discounted ticket € 5.00 per person:- children from 11 to 16 years
Discounted ticket € 8.00 per person:- Groups of more than 25 units;- Paper Ticket Holders of the MUSE
Arte Sella is located near Borgo Valsugana (35 km from Trento and 100 km from Padua)
follow the signs for Malga Costa along the Val di Sella provincial road 40
The Giardino di Villa Strobele is 10 km from the centre
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From the renovation of an over 300-year-old farmstead
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The Residence Kristall lies in Predazzo in Val di Fiemme
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Inspired by ever-changing biological forms and natural ecosystems, artist John Grade sculpts large-scale installations that explore the impermanence of nature
Grade visualizes the patterns of forest rainfall with a huge net structure suspended amongst the trees
The dazzling, chandelier-like piece is featured in the Arte Sella Sculpture Park in Borgo Valsugana
clear plastic compartments that each collect the rainwater as it falls
Each “droplet” is delicately formed from casts of 10 different human hands cupped together and framed with steam-bent strips of Alaskan yellow cedar
The individual globules are attached to a pair of marine nets and fishing line which are then supported by stainless steel rings and the surrounding tree trunks
the position of the net and droplets change
Reservoir can exceed a staggering 800 pounds; but as the water evaporates
the sculpture slowly releases into its lightest
“I became most interested in the way rain falls through this grove of trees, the canopy delaying the droplet’s journey to the ground as well as how quiet and sheltered the forest was during a heavy rain,” Grade reveals
“I wanted to make a sculpture that responded to the rain directly as well as a sculpture that responded to people.”
Man-made movement also affects the sculpture’s appearance
Grade collaborated with Italian dance artist Andrea Rampazzo to choreograph an interactive performance
pulling and releasing each tree line to create varied movements in the artwork
You can see more of Grade’s work on his website and Instagram
John Grade: Website | Facebook | Instagram
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Leifers/Laives is the youngest among the eight major cities in South Tyrol
More than 220 families are engaged in the cultivation of 15 different varieties of this fruit on approximately 500 hectares of land
The emblem of the city is the small church of San Pietro (Peterköfele) that’s depicted in the city’s coat of arms
Laives is an ideal starting point for bicycle excursions along the Adige cycle path and for walks along the Alta Via of Leifers/Laives
Crossed by the Brenta River and dominated by the imposing Castel Telvana
Borgo Valsugana offers one of the most spectacular river landscapes in Trentino
an 80-kilometer route connecting Lake Caldonazzo with Bassano del Grappa and Venice
Places to visit include the Parish Church of the Nativity of Mary
the interior of the former Spagolla Mill with an exhibition on World War I
and the biennial contemporary art exhibition
Borgo Valsugana is also the traditional finish line for the Coppa d'Oro
one of the most renowned youth cycling events in Trentino and Italy
Stage 4 will again start from Leifers/Laives in Südtirol/Alto Adige and end in Borgo Valsugana
following 141.3 kilometers and almost 4000 meters of elevation gain
these digits make it the queen stage of the 2024 Tour of the Alps
After a quick warm up in the first kilometers
a new climb toward Brusago will prepare the peloton for an even more challenging 4 kilometers up to the Passo Redebus
smooth downhill brings the pack to Pergine Valsugana
right before a new climb to the Passo del Compet KOM: 845 m of elevation gain in about 10 kilometers
The route continues descending toward Levico Terme
before a sudden turn skyward to tackle a new and highly demanding climb up the Passo del Vetriolo
the “Strada dei Baiti.” This climb will be followed by a long descent to bring the peloton to the valley floor before taking on the day’s final climb
the road features seven kilometers of average descending
and two kilometers of flat riding until the finish in Borgo Valsugana
The glimmering installation can reach 800 pounds when filled up
The artist John Grade has created an ethereal sculpture that dangles from trees in the Arte Sella Sculpture Park in Borgo Valsugana
“Reservoir,” looks like a chandelier that’s made from spiderwebs and diamonds
Grade’s sculpture is effectively a rainwater capture system
comprising 5,000 individual plastic pouches whose shapes are modeled off of cupped hands
Their bent wood frames connect to nets via a fishing wire
which allows them to dangle like sun catchers
the pouches gather rainwater as it dribbles through the leaves turning humble materials into thousands of glistening gems
it weighs just 70 pounds and keeps its original form
it falls lower to the ground and can weigh more than 800 pounds
the piece looks almost like a cloud that’s been dismantled and frozen in time
as in 2018 it was hit by a storm which left a devastating trail of mud
by forming a series of new architectural works
the proposal intends to brings visitors and artists back to this scenic mountain region
the atelier, all images courtesy of archijoo
entitled ‘part’, the project envisioned by archijoo aims to embrace the characteristics of the natural environment through the design of four different buildings. the main concept behind the entire proposal is to create not just a building
enabling the new architectural interventions to seamlessly integrate with the landscape
through this interaction with the environment
each building is imagined to form a different look for each of the four seasons
the atelier space is designed as a tall pitched roof structure
with the internal space completely exposed to the landscape through the specification of large areas of glazing
the concept aims to create a place that is perfectly integrated with nature
the restaurant takes on a more horizontal architectural expression
this structure is envisioned as a combination of trees and pillars
enabling the built form to be seen as part of the forest
the museum structure uses the footprint of existing follies which were previously on the site before the devastating storm reduced them to ruins
the new intervention traces over the former architecture to create a solid museum block
this form is designed to blend in with the landscape as the season changes
the auditorium space combines the idea of a traditional agora with the element of water
the circular roof will consist of a plate of water
project location: arte sella, borgo valsugana
architect: archijoo
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function
but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style
1987) is the founder and creative director of Studio Studio Studio
a new interdisciplinary lab that seeks to create cultural hybdrids
The recently dedicated installation called Gharfa is part of Diriyah Oasis
a temporary leisure and entertainment project in the Saudi capital conceived by Designlab Experience
Edoardo Tresoldi worked with fellow Italians: the designer Alberonero
and the garden designer Matteo Foschi of Odd Garden Studio
Tresoldi’s large-scale wire-mesh sculpture is 26 meters tall and includes a fire-recreating video installation and greenery that Matteo Foschi selected
Alberonero designed an installation whose semi-transparent fabric symbolizes a journey to the void
Max Magaldi’s sound narration comprises independent but interconnected musical segments
in such a way that it can only be heard in its entirely from the center of the structure
This monument goes up on a roundabout in Casalgrande
an area of Reggio Emilia known for its traditional ceramic industry
comissioned the design of an installation for a roundabout
a wall rising 12 meters high and 1.7 meters on its wider part
Avoiding the idea of monument as static element
the project experiments with dynamic principles such as time
By aligning the direction of the ceramic wall with the road that leads to it
when reaching the site drivers will perceive just a roundabout divided by a vertical line
and only when going around it can they appreciate it in all its extension and complexity
is used as a structural element beyond its traditional role of cladding thanks to a simple system of white lacquered ceramic pieces of 1200x600x14 millimeters
A bold trace nuanced by a slight vibration generates a blurred cloud structure
and transforms a banal context into a place that offers a new sensory experience
CCDP Reggio Emilia (arquitecto local local architect); Casalgrande Padana spa (mánager de proyecto project manager); Ejiri Structural Enjineers
CCDP Reggio Emilia (estructura structural engineering); Casalgrande Padana (ingeniería service engineering); Viabizzuno (iluminación lighting design)
Within the exhibition ‘Casa per Tutti,’ held at the Triennale of Milan
Cino Zucchi and Alejandro Aravena – designed five temporary housing prototypes to be displayed at the Triennale gardens next to the competition winners
The projects were set forth as proposals to address the problem of housing
the premise was the decision to use materials easily found at supermarkets
The next step was to find an industrial product fulfilling three conditions: it had to be lightweight
porous and waterproof plastic fabric called Tyvek produced by DuPont
the Umbrella house is an icosahedron where each triangular face is replaced by an umbrella and attached to the adjacent one by means of zippers
and the steel ribs generate the structure of the face
three triangles made of the same material are added to each hexagonal umbrella until the triangle required is achieved
with only fifteen umbrellas it is possible to build a covered space in the most extreme conditions
Iida Kasaten (consultor de paraguas umbrella consultant); DuPont Building Innovation & DuPont Technical Center (consultor de tejido fabric consultant); Ejiri Structural Engineers (estructura structural engineering); ismi design office (iluminación lighting design)
The beast hidden by northern Italy’s beauties
Exhibition dedicated to the tragic events that affected the area in 1966
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