The fantastic earth Pyramids of Segonzano

There are some places that are truly extraordinary. Unique places that will leave you dumbfounded as you contemplate the wonders of nature. There are many of these in Trentino, one of which is Valle di Cembra with its Pyramids of Segonzano. Have you ever seen them? They look like something created from the imagination of a writer or a film-maker, something from another world which, at least for a few hours, we can visit.

The pyramids are the product of a geological phenomenon, and consist of moraine deposits (very fine gravel, pebbles and boulders) left after the last ice age when the Avisio glacier disappeared from the valley. They are in a number of different shapes resulting from the disintegration and collapse of the mountainsides and the thin ridges: long conical shapes topped with a large “cap”, sharp-topped pyramids, craggy or sharp ridges, pyramids grouped together like organ pipes. The “cap” on the top of some of the pyramids ensures their long life, as it acts as a protective cover. Without the cap, the resulting pointed tip would be more subject to erosion by rain. The largest “cap” in the park has been calculated to weigh around 10 tones.