History behind the Vaia Dragon

The Vaia Dragon, a sculpture created by Venetian artist Marco Martalar on Alpe Cimbra in the Lavarone area (Dolomites). The Dragon's body is made entirely of scraps of trees felled by the fury of the Vaia storm that swept away millions of trees in the Triveneto mountains in 2018.

This wooden sculpture, located among the Cimbri Highlands, in the Alpine Pearl of Lavarone, is the largest one in Europe and is the symbol of the rebirth of Triveneto woods, affected by the terrible Vaia storm of October 2018. In fact, the wood used comes from the trees fallen due to the strong bad weather of that period. 

The Vaia Dragon was made, between October and November 2021, by the Asiago sculptor Marco Martalar, within the project “Lavarone Green Land”. The work, with its 6 meters in height and 7 meters in length, consists of 2000 pieces of wood from the Vaia storm and 3000 screws.

Through the Vaia Dragon, Marco Martalar wanted to send a very clear message: nothing lasts forever and everything is transformed. In fact, the wood of the sculpture is untreated and, over time, it will deteriorate due to the effect of atmospheric agents. Therefore, it will change shape and, through decomposition, will form new humus for the woods. 

The Trees unprooted by the storm will then be nourishment for other trees and will help to make them more flourishing.

TheVaia Dragon can be reached by foot, so as not to create discomforts to the hamlet of Magrè, where there are no car parks.