SUNRISE IN THE VALLEY

TRADITIONAL S. CRISTINA

While the centre of Val Gardena may be easy to miss at first glance, that does not make it any less important: welcome to the village of S. Cristina. Culture takes centre stage in this village, to the point that associations are alive and kicking here: the local band, a volunteer firemen service with plenty of history and plenty of choirs, to boot make up the vibrant village life. Its main choir, the Chor Sasslong, for example, has received countless awards for its performances. The cultural offer is complemented by a youth orchestra and the theatre association. S. Cristina is located on a hill and if you walk to the centre of the village you will reach the old parish church. It overshadows the rooftops of the village and is the centrepiece of many a postcard, framed by the surrounding majestic mountains. Speaking of mountains – above S. Cristina lies the Col Raiser, between the Odle Summits and Stevia. A perfect location to make the most of amazing skiing fun during winter and beautiful hikes during summer.

PICTURESQUE SELVA VAL GARDENA

This sleepy village looks as though it has been plucked right off of a postcard, with the rocky massif of the Passo Sella reaching into the air in the background. The massif has something protective about it, and its silhouette rises northeast to Selva di Val Gardena and offers a perfect connection between the village and the Sellaronda at 1,563 m altitude. A pure ski paradise in winter, which connects the four Dolomite passes around the Passo Sella and can be explored in both directions, i.e. clockwise and anticlockwise. People can truly experience a piece of history when walking across the Vallunga. A wall, the remnants of the old Castel Wolkenstein, decorates the rocky wall of the Stevia mountain and is a gateway into a faraway fantastical land.

HISTORICAL ORTISEI

When driving from the Brennero towards Val Gardena, the first town which welcomes guests to the valley is Ortisei. An idyllic town which has plenty to offer: numerous cafes are the perfect excuse to while the hours away, while modern boutiques pull shoppers in with their interesting offers. The local ‘Museum de Gherdëina’ is a door to Val Gardena’s interesting historical facts; visitors can admire historical wood carvings, archaeological findings as well as old toys! What if you want to experience history itself? Simply follow the old ‘Troi Paian’ alta via towards the St. Jacob’s Church , the oldest church of Val Gardena. Legend has it that birds flew up to the hill and landed here. This was seen as a sign that it was God’s will to build his church here. The location offers a breathtaking view over the Sassolungo group: so beautiful you have to pinch yourself to check you are not dreaming.