Surrounded by the mountains of Sassolungo and Sella, nestling amidst woods of quite extraordinary beauty, lies the Val Gardena, one of the most-loved tourist destinations of Italy's Trentino.
Those choosing the mountains of Val Gardena for their holiday, whether for a leisurely summer vacation or invigorating winter break, have the opportunity to partake in all sorts of leisure and sporting activities. The range of ultra modern sports facilities includes open air and indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, bowling pitches, spa and fitness centers, but also ice-skating rinks, alpine golfing courses, riding stables, and archery schools.
The oldest road to the Val Gardena commences in the town of Ponte Gardena, the population of which is predominantly of German mother tongue. From here the road skirts around the Castelforte, one of the area's most stunning castles, first recorded mention of which dates back to 1173. This monumental complex, built on the site of a Roman tower, was enlarged in 1383 by the Wolkenstein. Between 1594 and 1625 the property was transformed in aristocratic residence. The Castelforte (or Trostburg) is open to the public between May and October.
Ortisei is one of the most important towns in the valley: the town center, with its lively pedestrian zone, is a popular place where to socialise or indulge in a little shopping. This is where to find the Museum of the Val Gardena, which houses a great number of archaeological findings dating back to the stone and iron ages. The Natural History and Mineralogy sections are particularly interesting, as is the collection of fossils all originating from the Dolomites. The Museum also houses a vast collection of wooden toys.
The art of sculpting wood is, in fact one of the principal artistic activities of the Val Gardena, a craft which has a centuries old tradition here. In the 18th century, sculptors from Val Gardena were employed in Russia to realise immense altars measuring a height of up to 12 meters. In more recent years, artworks produced in the area have been exhibited in the United States and throughout Europe.
Just 4 kilometers separate Ortisei from Santa Cristina. From this charming little town, the Col Kaiser cable car transports passengers to the mountain refuge of the same name. During the summer, the refuge constitutes an excellent point of departure for excursions of various duration and difficulty. During the winter months, some of the valley's most beautiful ski slopes are realised here. From Col Kaiser a mountain path leads to the Fermeda Refuge. Perhaps the most spectacular walk is that which commences at Monte Pana and terminates at the Plan de Cunfin, at the feet of the Sassolungo mountain. From Santa Cristina a number of interesting winter walks can be enjoyed, far from the busy ski slopes. During these excursions, walkers have the opportunity to stop for a little sustenance in one of the wooden chalets transformed in restaurants, where to taste the area's traditional cuisine.
The cuisine of Val Gardena has been greatly influenced by that of nearby Austria and Hungary. The bread made here is famous throughout the world, the best known variety being the "Schüttelbrot": a particularly crunchy bread, made from rye flour, yeast, water, salt and a number of spices. Then there are the soups, cheeses, and the legendary bacon or "speck". Traditional meat dishes served in the area include sausages made with venison.
From Santa Cristina, the town of Selva di Val Gardena is just a few minutes away. The town, towering some 1563 meters above sea level, has a great number of hotels of various categories. From here, panoramic pathways lead to the ruins of Wolkenstein Castle and the lush mountain plain of Pra di Ri. A series of hairpin bends lead all the way up to the Puez Refuge, 2475 meters above sea level.
Beyond the town of Selva, the valley opens up in to a basin dominated by the slopes of the Sella. This is where to find the Plan de Gralba, one of Val Gardena's principal ski resorts. A pleasant walk and a journey by the Dantercëppies cable car leads to the Gardena Pass. Following the pathway no.2 walkers come first to the Baita Clark and then the Crespëina Pass and the lake of the same name. The pathway marked with a "P" was once used by postal workers so as to provide a service between Ortisei and the low valley. During the autumn, when the landscape is ablaze with rich gold, orange and red, this walk is particularly beautiful.
