TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE Presented by: Annmarie & Bodie

Located in Northern Italy Capital: Trento

Landscape  Extremely mountainous and is covered by mostly the Dolomites and Southern Alps  Many vast forests

Agricultural Division  Agriculture divides the region  Land in Trentino is divided among legitimate heirs  Alto Adige plots of land cannot be subdivided Property holdings remain vast  Government encourages the priorities of traditional agriculture to preserve the institution

Industry and Exports in Trentino  The fertile valleys of Trentino produce wine fruit, dairy products and timber, while its industries include paper, chemical and metal production  The region is a major exporter of hydroelectric power. The most important features of the region's economic structure are the strength of tourism and the special system of co-operation between agriculture and industry

Climate  The mountains, valleys, and the river Adige— in the city of Bolzano, heavily influence climate  The average temperature is around 12.3 degrees Celsius

Climate  The climate varies through areas and seasons  From an alpine climate to a sub continental one  Warm and variable summers and cold and quiet snowy winters  A popular destination for tourism  In winter for skiing in the high mountains and during the summer to visit valleys and many lakes

“Withstand the Rigors of Winter”  Drastic struggle against the cold  There are festivals to mark the end of winter  Tourists visit Trentino in the summer to cool down

Austrian and German Influences  Consists of two provinces: Trento and Bolzano-Bozen  Province of Bolzano-Bolzen has a population of 498,280 and Province of Trento has a population of 518,966, collectively over one million people  Bolzano-Bozen has a 69% population speaking German, Trento mainly Italian  60% speak Italian while 35% speak German with 5% speaking Ladin  German and Italian are both the official languages

History: A Battle of Territory  Conquered by Romans in 15 BC  was later divided between Germany tribes  During the First World War, the Austro-Hungarian reign collapsed and the territory was signed over to the Italians  Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator, ruled Italy  Hitler and Mussolini agreed in 1938 that the German-speaking population would be transferred to German-ruled territory or dispersed around Italy  But the outbreak of the Second World War prevented them from fully carrying out the relocation

History: A Battle for Territory  Brenner Pass through the Alps was important because whoever controlled the pass controlled trade routes from north to south  Some of the most intense fighting during World War One was fought in the mountains of Trento

History: Catholic Influence on Cuisine  The region of Trentino was dominated by the Catholic clergy  Trento was the stronghold of the Catholic Counter- Reformation, site of 16 th century Council of Trent  Goal: to halt the spread of Lutheranism  The only mountain pass leading from Italy to Austria, the Brenner Pass, is accessible from Trento  The city is the perfect place for planning large commercial fairs

“La Cucina der Papa”  The monks participated in fasting and abstinence  Had an obsession for rules of fasting and an obvious attraction to the sins of gluttony  Established a meatless cuisine

The Days of Meat  Before the Catholic influence on cuisine in the region of Trentino, a lot of meat was eaten  Popular meats  Capercaillies – large grouse  Fallow deer  Chamois – antelope  Roe deer

The Catholic Influence  Eliminated use of meat in dishes  Dishes then consisted of flour, milk, and vegetables  Fish was/is hardly present in dishes  If used, it is freshwater fish  The only exception is during Lent when cod is shipped into the region

Importance of Bread  The best oven-baked products were invented in monasteries  Bread was made daily for the poor  Ritual element of domestic life  Symbolically related to health, prosperity, and composition of family

The Family Loaf  Invented in Benedictine Abbey of Monte Maria in Burusio, in Val Venosta  Baked as a “couple” in a single pan  Each spouse eats half

Grainy Magnificence of Trentino  Not only breads  Pastas  Dumplings  A majority of dumplings include potatoes Five different types grown in Italy Avezzana of Abruzzi Agata of Emilia Romagna Tuscan and Ligurian Pastagialla Viterbese of Lazio Trentino inhabitants favor Austrian variety

Nordic Vegetables  Corn is a popular agricultural commodity in the southern region  Similar to those vegetables favored in Russia  Potatoes  Cabbage

The Grass is Greener in Trentino

Traditional Trentino Kitchens  Traditional Trentino kitchens usually consist of a cobblestone floor with a wooden ceiling  Family gatherings and meals take place in this area

Gnocci or dumplings were called strango-Lapreti or priest-chockers It was made of stale bread and spinach First Course

Normally consists of salted meats and beans Hare in sweet and sour sauce Trentino-style chicken stuffed with walnuts, pine nuts, bread, marrow, liver, eggs Second Course

Strudel and Zelten (sweet bread, with dried canned fruits) Dessert

Red Wine

Grazie, Grazie