The Grand Community of Fiemme

s you cross the center of Cavalese, you will see a grand old mansion with its facade covered with frescos. It is the former Bishop's Mansion, today the seat of the Grand Community of Fiemme. In fact, the Fiemme valley is, to this day, part of a community organization which has its origins in antiquity. It is composed of 'vicini, ' or neighbors, who have been residents for at least 20 years, in the eleven towns which lie within and around the valley, governed by the ancient 'regole,' i.e. written laws. The ancient boundaries do not coincide with today's boundaries. The original eleven towns were Moena (now part of Fassa), Predazzo, Ziano, Tesero, Panchi, Cavalese, Varena, Daiano, Carano, Castello and Trodena (today part of the autonomous Province of Bolzano). On December 31, 2012 there were 18,634 'vicini,' grouped into 8,279 'fuochi,' literally fires, or hearths, meaning families. The Bishop's Mansion that we see today has been restructured and expanded. The frescoes were applied during the era of the Bishop Prince, Cardinal Bernardo Clesio. The work was completed in 1540 during the tenure of his successor, Cristoforo Madruzzo. The Fiemme valley was always part of the bishop's see of Trento, until its secession in 1803. The origins of the Bishop's Mansion date back to the 1200's and it served primarily as a political and judiciary center, presided over by the bishop's staff and his vicar, who was the judge. The Community acquired the building in 1850 and made its headquarters there.

Every four years, the 'vicini' of each town elects its own town council - the number of members being proportionate to the number of 'vicini.' The councilman who receives the most votes becomes the 'regolano' or chief officer of the town council. The eleven 'regolani' form the General Council of the Grand Community. This general council took the place of the ancient general assembly of all the 'vicini.' The eleven regolani choose one person from among themselves to be the official legal representative of the Community, called the 'scario.' The General Council administers the whole Community, in the name of the 'vicini.' It is responsible for a few official buildings, including its headquarters, and for all its large territory (76 square miles), consisting of 49 square miles of forest, 22 square miles of pastureland with the rest remaining 'unproductive' zones.

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The Grand Community of Fiemme has its own constitution, flag, and coat of arms. The coat of arms was established on December 15, 1587, by the Prince Bishop, Cardinal Ludovico Madruzzo. The Community has great social importance for the Fiemme valley, not only because of its history, but also because of its consistent land management and its public representation. It supports all public social and voluntary activities. If today the Grand Community acts only as an administrative body, let it be known that in the past it was far more important. The change occurred in 1807, when, under the Bavarian government, the ancient laws or 'Regole' were abolished and the Community, which had enjoyed a a degree of automomy, became subject to the provincial government. The organization of the Community was abandoned, the 'scario' became the cashier, and the administrative duties were delegated to a mayor. Moreover, the mayor now answers to the whole population, not just to the tenured 'vicini.' Beginning no later than 1111, for which the earliest documentation exists, until 1806, the Grand Community was involved in all administrative, economic, social, and health decisions. It also was involved in the adminstration of justice. Its seat was in Cavalese and all the officers served one year terms, as was customary in those days.Even then the Community had its own constitution, quite a bit more complex than today's. Unlike what was done in other similar communities in the bishop's see, this constitution included laws regulating the socio-economic life of the population, laws regulating the civil courts and later, in 1613, the criminal courts as well. There were also provisions for the management of forest land (dating from 1592) and the granary (1598). It even included a covenant (1593) entrusting the pastor of Fiemme, with the care of the souls of the populace. Written by Professor and author Italo Giordani.