Quetta

 We fell in love last week. It was easy.

We spent eight days in Quetta, a small northern Italian village (population less than 200), nestled among other small villages, the Dolomites, and ubiquitous apple orchards sporting a cascade of the fruit in many different colors and varieties. What’s not to like?

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View from the back deck as we prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashonah with Federica's challah and local honey.


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Another view, of the nearby village of Denno, its apple orchards and distant snow covered Dolomites


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Nearby villages, with population and distance from Quetta.


Grown on small family farms, the apples provide the basis of the area’s prosperity. The farmers’ cooperative model centralizes all post-harvest activities up to and including, most importantly, sales. Their cooperative, called Melinda, is one of Italy’s largest apple grower cooperatives and a major European player.

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View of apple orchard

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Apples up close


Apart from the beauty of this agricultural area, you can’t beat the ubiquity of delicious €2 cappuccinos ($2.35), with almost every village having a small coffee bar. And calling it a “bar” is not wrong either, as each one has a selection of wine, liqueurs, and grappa (grown in the region). Anyone for a Caffè Corretto? Or a midday glass of wine?

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Coffee Bar in Termon. Caffè Correto is coffee with your favorite liqueur 


Another striking feature of the area is the numerous castles (close to 150 in the Trentino region!), many preserved and some functioning as museums. The castles signify the decentralization of power in medieval times, the wealth and prestige of the ruling class and the links between religion and civil authority.

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12th century Belasi Castle, 2.5 miles from Quetta, and also housing a small museum.

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Inside the castle


We will long remember the area’s beauty, and continue to romanticize the tolling of church bells at all hours of the day from 6:30 on - coming from Quetta’s own ancient church (documented as early as 1329) as well as from others in the area.

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