Some people discover Rovereto on holiday. Others get to know it through work, or simply happen to pass through. A first visit to Rovereto, the first city in Trentino when arriving from the south, can be full of surprises.
As with any first encounter, appearances come first. It is hard not to notice the setting: vineyards, mountains, rivers and cycle paths surrounding the city. But what really stands out is Rovereto’s character: industrious, creative and grounded. A city that works, builds and innovates, and has done so for centuries.
Rovereto is one of those places that welcomes people with ideas and the drive to make things happen. A place for anyone looking for a balance between innovation and quality of life.
The past: a vocation centuries in the making
Rovereto has been at the heart of Trentino’s productive economy for centuries. Its strategic position, within easy reach of Verona and the Po Valley, together with a strong manufacturing tradition, has made enterprise part of the city’s identity.
The present: an ecosystem that works
Today Rovereto is a place where a great deal is happening without losing its balance. People study, experiment, work and build here. Innovation is not presented as a promise. It is part of everyday work.
Two places capture this particularly well: Rovereto’s technology hubs managed by Trentino Sviluppo.
- Polo Meccatronica is Trentino Sviluppo’s high-tech hub. Built on the former Pirelli cotton mill site, it now brings students, companies and researchers together in the same ecosystem. It is also home to ProM Facility, a specialist laboratory for advanced mechatronics prototyping.
- Progetto Manifattura is a major business incubator dedicated to the green economy. Its focus ranges from sustainable construction and renewable energy to sport tech and biotech. Today it brings together companies, start-ups and research centres working on Trentino’s transition towards a more sustainable economy. It is also connected to Italy’s first district dedicated to energy and the environment. Working to change things: discover Progetto Manifattura
The future: open to people, ideas and possibilities
Rovereto is continuing to make room for new ideas, new skills and new people.
Work is now under way on a new 30,000-square-metre Hydrogen Hub, designed to bring together research, testing and industrial applications for hydrogen and battery technologies. At the same time, projects across health, artificial intelligence and sustainable technologies continue to expand the city’s innovation landscape.
Around all of this is a city that moves at its own pace while continuing to look ahead: theatres, museums, coworking spaces, forests and good transport connections.
A drink in the square. Getting around by bike. Everyday life on a human scale. Here, quality of life is not something separate from work. It is part of the context in which work happens.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But if you are considering a new beginning, Rovereto and the Vallagarina area could be worth a closer look.
