Ala, City of Velvet
Grand Tour, a journey through the 18th century
Ala goes back to the 18th century through art, history and baroque atmospheres. The topic of the 28th edition of Ala City of Velvet is Grand Tour: a journey made of exhibitions, guided tours, workshops and flavors for every age.
City of Velvet is the main summer event organized in Ala, a moment in which the atmosphere of the city evocates the 18th century. Events and dresses celebrate the tradition of Velvet, that made Ala a crucial city in Europe.
The theme of the 28th edition is Grand Tour: the experience that young European Aristocrats used to make in order to discover Italian cultural heritage and landscapes. Even if less known than Florence or Venice, Ala was also included in this itinerary.
The city was visited by famous figures such as Mozart, hosted at De’ Pizzini family house, where he played piano as a child, but also the Russian Zar Nicola 1st, Heinrich Heine, Napoleone Bonaparte and many others.
The City of Velvet Grand Tour guides the visitors in a temporal journey with a rich program for every age: exhibitions, creative workshops, shows, fairy tales and guided tours. Visitors have the opportunity to admire historical palaces, to visit the incoming Textile Museum and the Ancient Piano Museum and to take part in a tour guided by characters in 18th-century costumes.
Every place of the city becomes a crucial moment of the journey: from Loris Fabiani’s comic show to the moving poetry of Kataklò company and the music performance of I Virtuosi Italiani, passing through street art and itinerant shows about baroque.
A lot of events (especially on Sunday) are dedicated to families, with workshops, escape rooms and theatre adventures along the streets and courtyards.
Last but not least, a journey through typical flavors and dishes, traditional sweets (gluten-free is also available) and wines produced by some of the best canteens of Ala and Vallagarina.
Event program available soon!