Arte Sella

Nestled in the foothills of the Dolomites, a road southwest of Borgo Valsugana, winds up and up and up, to the beautiful sculpture park, Arte Sella. 

Site specific sculptures made of natural materials accentuate the surrounding landscape and beckon visitors to not merely view, but to participate and to interact. 

My family and I spent several hours, playing, experiencing, and enjoying the various sculptures at Arte Sella.  

A loop path leads visitors from sculpture site to sculpture site.  The sculptures in the park are constructed on site and are made specifically to interact with the landscape.   

  

I've included here just a sampling of some of my personal favorites.... 

This little domed building acts as a giant camera obscura, with a little bench on the inside.  Visitors enter and close the door to the outside.  Once seated on the bench, a faint image begins to appear on the adjacent wall.  As your eyes adjust to the light the image becomes clearer.....

inside view

outside view

It is fun to speculate what kind of organisms would build and inhabit these organic structures.  Step inside and you can see the views from the windows and the doors, and see how the structures are built right into the surrounding trees.  

Reminiscent of a cathedral, this sculpture is a beautiful marriage of art and nature. 

A family of owls watch over the entrance and exit of Arte Sella, we look up at them and say, "Good-bye," they look down at us as if to say, "Until next time!" 

The walk back to the car offers a final and amazing panoramic view.