Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Predazzo
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Predazzo, Italy Predazzo, Italy
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
print Print
Please select which sections you would like to print:
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Predazzo, Italy
Predazzo, Italy Predazzo, a village in the Val di Fiemme in northern Italy.

Predazzo

Italy
Written by
Scott Spires
Scott Spires is Associate Editor for Geography at EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica.
Scott Spires
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History
Top Questions

Why is Predazzo known as the “Geological Garden of the Alps”?

What historical governance system was established in Predazzo in 1447?

What is the significance of the Geological Museum of the Dolomites in Predazzo?

What events did Predazzo host for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Predazzo, village and comune (municipality) in northern Italy, situated in the Val di Fiemme in the regione (region) of Trentino. Its location in the Dolomites has endowed it with an outstanding geological heritage, giving it the nickname “Geological Garden of the Alps.” Predazzo is also renowned as a venue for winter sports, including both Alpine and cross-country skiing.

History

Predazzo, Italy
Predazzo, ItalyLocation of Predazzo in Italy.

The area around Predazzo received its first recorded mention in 1050, in a document delineating local borders between dioceses. Early documentary records pertaining to Predazzo suggest that a settlement under that name existed there from the mid-13th century onward. As late as the 16th century, the village remained tiny, numbering some 30 dwellings.

In 1447 a system of feudal rule (Regola Feudale) was instituted in Predazzo. This was exercised by an autonomous governing body for the management of collective property, which was set up as a private society of “neighbors” (that is, members of the town’s long-established families). The Regola Feudale has survived to the present day, notwithstanding many changes of government.

Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

The contemporary town

Today’s Predazzo is home to the Geological Museum of the Dolomites. Founded in 1899, it contains exhibits on the region’s complex and diverse geological phenomena. In the early 19th century, the region’s geology began to attract the attention of scholars such as the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt and the geologist Leopold von Buch, which made Predazzo an important destination for the study of Earth sciences.

Predazzo is also an important hub for sports, with extensive facilities for both summer and winter competitions. One of its most prominent venues is the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium, which hosted a World Cup event for the first time in 1990. It serves as the training base for Italy’s national ski jumping and Nordic combined teams and hosted ski jumping events in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Pop. (2021) 4,200.

Scott Spires