You are arriving in the Brolo square, this is now the most important square in the village, dedicated to Monsignor Orler. It is large, sunny and green, and is the perfect place for gatherings. Its stage tells the story of the all the best performances of Mezzano Romantica and our village festivals.
Look up at the Pale di San Martino mountain range, the largest of the Dolomite groups and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Note the unpretentious facade of the Church of Saint George with its onion topped bell tower. St. George, together with the Madonna of Carmelo are the patron saints of Mezzano. The church is simple and linear, but quite large, evidencing the fact that Mezzano has always been quite well populated. It is the only church in the valley built on the valley floor and therefore more exposed to the flooding of the river Cismon or landslides, as promptly happened the last time, in 1966.
The church is believed to date from 1300. It has been rebuilt several times over the centuries and owes its present appearance to the last renovation in 1672. It has three naves, you can see the Baroque altar piece with its statue of St. George made of wood, five paintings by the Trentino artist Vittorio Melchiori, with scenes from the Old and New Testaments and there are head and shoulder busts of saints in the apse and central nave. The other 17th century altar pieces along the lateral naves are by Veneto and Trentino schools.
A curiosity: in 1800 two facades on the highest parts of the bell tower were painted a reddish purple with blue window frames that opened onto the bells. It was probably for this reason Mezzano was known as the “village of showy colours”.
From Brolo square you can already see one of the wood-stack installations (I will tell you more about them later). These are “The spheres of the imaginary”, three spheres that not only revolutionise the forms, but also their significance: the empty space in their centres wishes to leave space for the imagination and to mystery.
Now turn towards the Town Hall, you cannot miss it: the red gateway is awaiting you.
