Discovering little-known gems in my own country has become a bit of a hobby: I’ve been making a list, and I am planning to start visiting them this spring. First of all, traveling is fun, and then… who knows, they may be pretty enough to decide to stay, provided I can find a place my three cats like. 

During the holidays I came across Borgo Valsugana, which is a village of about 7,000 in one of my favorite regions of Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige — nothing is more beautiful than the Alps for me. Located some 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Trento, the nearest large city, Borgo Valsugana is one of I Borghi più Belli d’Italia, which tells us this isn’t just a pretty place, but also that its community works hard to preserve its history and heritage alive.