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Valle Isarco

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Alex Filz

VALLE ISARCO

The Valle Isarco is located in the centre of South Tyrol and it is home to priceless treasures and ancient towns such as Bressanone. The valley takes its name from its main river, the Isarco, whose source is located on the Monte del Sasso at the Brenner Pass.

We recommend a visit to Vipiteno for a tour of the city centre and, above all, to taste the typical speciality, yogurt.

But what you can’t miss is the Villnöss Tal/Val di Funes, with its landscape that will take your breath away and will remain in your heart for its beauty: a chapter that we would like to explore as thoroughly as possible.

TOP 5 NOT TO BE MISSED

Bressanone and its treasures

Val di Funes

Vipiteno

Chiusa

Skiing on the Trametsch

BRIXEN / BRESSANONE

Close your eyes and think of a city with a wonderful old town, made up of arcades, alleys, squares and small squares, where every corner gives a dip in history and reveals the ancient origins of the city itself: welcome to Brixen!

Bressanone is the third most important city in South Tyrol, but it is above all the oldest city in the whole Tyrol: it was founded in 901 and for many years was the official residence of the Prince-Bishop of Bressanone.

You will not be surprised to find signs of ecclesiastical power throughout the city. The vibrant square is home to the magnificent cathedral, and if you like the style, we recommend that you go through the streets, looking for the Bishop’s Palace, the beautiful cloister, and the Major Seminary.

The center is full of shops, bars, restaurants: do not miss the opportunity to have a snack with local specialties!

For your party spirit we recommend you to take part in the Altstadtfest, a festival that lasts two days (from Friday to Sunday evening) and takes place every two years (alternating with Brunico). Music, typical South Tyrolean cuisine, stalls and parades: fun (and lots of beer) guaranteed!

 

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Alex Filz

 

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Alex Filz

Another initiative is the Water Light Festival every year in May, where artists from all over the world reinterpret and enhance the cultural treasures of the city with installations of lights and art.

Just outside the bishop’s city, you can get to know its wonderful villages: the sunny Elvas, Varna and Novacella.

The last one is the seat of the famous Abbey of Novacella/Kloster Neustift, a religious and cultural centre founded in 1142: find out about the guided tours, get involved in the spiritual atmosphere that pervades this place, and taste the delicious wine produced here since its foundation.

STERZING / VIPITENO

You may wonder why the Italian toponym is so different from German. In the long work of denominating Italian toponyms, for Sterzing the choice fell on the name of the station of an ancient Roman road that passed right here, Vipitenum.

This wonderful Alpine town will surprise you with its very old historic centre, connected to the new town by a road along which you can admire the typical and colourful houses.

From here you can reach the ski and hiking resorts of Monte Cavallo, Val Ridanna and Val di Vizze, pretty valleys, which are perfect places to cool off from the summer heat. Another wonderful location is the ski area Racines-Giovo, perfect if you stay in Vipiteno.

Is yogurt your passion? Or do you simply want to visit one of the most famous dairies in Italy? Sterzinger Joghurt is your destination.

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Alex Filz

 

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Alex Filz

KLAUSEN / CHIUSA

Ten kilometres south of Bressanone, surrounded by vineyards and chestnut trees, is Klausen/Chiusa, a municipality also known as “the town of artists”. This definition comes from the great succession of artists who have lived here, in love with its corners made of typical houses, Gothic churches and ancient monasteries. The most famous of these is the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer.

Don’t miss: Gernstein Castle, Branzollo Castle and the imposing Sabiona Monastery, which today is the seat of a cloistered convent of Benedictine nuns and is therefore partially open to visitors. You can already see it from the motorway, but you can only reach it on foot with a beautiful walk from the center of Chiusa.

NATZ-SCHABS / NAZ SCIAVES

If you say “apples” you will probably associate South Tyrol and start thinking about vast fields of apple trees, with white flowers and an intense scent of fruit. Well, this is a part of what you can find on the apple plateau of Naz, walking along its apple path.

But not only the delicious winter fruit, in Naz-Sciaves there is also the Chestnut Valley, a precious source for a proper Törggelen!

Foto ©IDM Alto Adige Jessica Preuhs

CURIOSITIES

Do you know that Vipiteno is home to one of the world’s leading companies in terms of technology? Leitner Spa, with 65 subsidiaries worldwide, is the world’s leading manufacturer of ropeway installations. But that’s not all: snow-making systems, wind turbines and snow groomers make this company a real institution. Every time you use a ski lift, you’ll notice!

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Even in this valley, needless to say, you have a nice extensive choice on the ski

landscape. And if you think that winter is just synonymous with skiing, in Valle Isarco you’ll think again: toboggan runs, cross-country trails, fun parks and funslopes, hiking trails and snowshoes complete the offer for winter activities.

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Stefan Schütz

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Helmuth Rier

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Immerse yourself in the nature of the Valle Isarco and discover the breathtaking views with the numerous hiking trails, suitable for all ages.

For your fearless soul, we point out that Bressanone is the starting point for the Alta Via n. 2, which continues to Feltre, in Veneto: from here you can discover the Dolomite landscapes from a special point.

And then, have you ever thought of competing with the kart in the mountains? Discover where, in Valle Isarco!

EXCURSIONISTIC AND SCIISTIC AREAS

RATSCHINGS-JAUFEN / RACINES-GIOVO

No matter if you are an experienced skier or just taking your first steps in the world of skiing, this ski area is the right place for you: with 8 lifts and more than 25 kilometres of easy and medium difficulty slopes, the Racines/Giovo ski area will leave you speechless with its wonderful landscapes.

Funpark and funslope are also present here, for freestyle life. In addition, a 5 km long toboggan run will give you a great shot of adrenaline.

If cross-country skiing is your passion, we recommend the 50 km circuits between Racines and Val Ridanna.

In the warm season, the area becomes the family area of your dreams: among the many excursions surrounded by nature, we want to highlight the WorldAdventure Mountain, which is located at 1800 meters above sea level, at the arrival of the new panoramic cableway Racines-Giovo. From here starts the ring path suitable even for prams or pushchairs, where you will discover with your puppies the world of ants, marmots, many other attractions and you can cool off with water games. The duration of the walk is 45 minutes.

And to recharge your batteries after your excursions, don’t forget to put your legs under the table and treat yourself to the specialties served by the huts in the area.

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Alex Filz

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Thomas Grüner

PLOSE

The Brissans’ ski area is famous for its Trametsch, the longest ski run in Südtirol: 9 km long and with a difference in altitude of 1400 metres.

In addition to this, more than 40 kilometres of perfectly prepared pistes guarantee the highest level of fun together with the freestyle fun park.

The long toboggan run “Rudirun” is the attraction you can’t miss: 9 kilometres of pure fun!

If you’re more of a snowshoe type, you won’t have trouble finding your way: many suggestive routes are well marked and will give you unforgettable views.

Even in summer, however, the Plose can offer unique moments with truly original attractions. One of them is the Mountaincart, i.e. the tour of some paths made with the cart. Ready?

Here, too, families will find the right place to discover the beauty of the area: the Woodywalk starts at the top station of the Plose cable car and runs for 2 km to the Rossalm, where an outdoor playground will welcome young and old. Along the way you can enjoy a unique panorama: the Sass de Putia and the unmistakable Odle.

In addition, the downhill here is at home with the exciting trails through the woods.

Absolutely not to be disdained also the gastronomic part, very well present in the numerous huts and refuges.

And if you are not afraid of altitude (or even fatigue), we recommend the Alta Via n. 2, which goes from Bressanone to Feltre, passing through the most beautiful and suggestive areas of the Dolomites. Also known as the “Alta Via delle Leggende”, this route starts from Innsbruck via the Brenner Pass, but we are sure that you will be able to do so too.

ADVICE

Val di Funes is definitely the ideal place to rest and enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Dolomites. What we would like to recommended is an excursion to the Geisleralm/Rifugio delle Odle, where the famous Geislerkino/Cinema delle Odlehas been installed: wooden benches where you can regenerate yourself watching the biggest show after the Big-Ben, the Dolomites.

NATURAL PARKS

Naturpark Puez-Geisler/Puez-Odle Nature Park

The Puez-Odle nature park is a protected area that you can access from the Valle Isarco from Bressanone, but also from Val Gardena and Alta Badia.

It includes some of the highest and most impressive peaks of the Dolomites: Plose, Monte Gabler, Sass de Putia, Gruppo delle Odle with Furchetta and Sass Rigais (over three thousand meters) and the Gruppo del Puez with the Piz de Puez and the famous Sassonger.

The park is the favourite destination for mountaineers, thanks to the numerous via ferratas, some of which are part of the Alta via n. 2. Not only challenging routes, but also suitable for all types of physical training. If the hike is beautiful only if you finally get to a refuge, let us name a few: Refuge Puez, Refuge Firenze, Refuge Genova, Refuge Gardenaccia.

In Santa Maddalena there is a visitor center to explore and discover the flora and fauna, such as the royal owl or the grouse capercaillie. An unmissable opportunity for all your family!