South Tyrol still has them; quiet villages where everyday noise is absent. Amid the marble, the Dolomites and the radicchio fields, they tell the story of the region and of the people who have preserved its culture for generations. These are places that don't impose themselves on you but invite you to notice the little things again.
Glurns/Glorenza in the Vinschgau valley is the smallest town in South Tyrol and is one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”, the most beautiful villages in Italy. The fully preserved city wall, with its three gate towers, dates from the 16th century, making Glurns the only surviving fortification in the Alps.
The three-house village Schlinig/Slingia also has a story to tell. Located in a Vinschgau side valley, Schlinig was for a long time an important crossing point into Switzerland. Today, an old smugglers' path leading into the Uina Gorge tells the story.
In Karthaus/Certosa in the Schnalstal valley, the Via Monachorum serves as a reminder of the former life of the Carthusian monks. And around Taufers im Münstertal/Tubre in Val Monastero and Schluderns/Sluderno, irrigation trails or the Churburg trails connect us with history.
King Ortler watches over them: Stilfs/Stelvio – once home to the miners who dug for ore on the Ortler– and further up, Trafoi, the smallest village in the Alps. From here, you can set off on walks and cycle rides in the Ortler region or the Stilfserjoch National Park through a largely unspoilt landscape.
La Val/La Valle is situated on a hillside in the Gadertal Valley. Meadows, forests and the hamlet of “les Viles” define the landscape. There are no ski lifts here; instead, you'll find hiking trails, Ladin culture and the Armentara Meadows. Set out between the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park and Puez-Geisler Nature Park and find peace with every stride.
In Laas/Lasa, you'll come across marble, the “white gold”. The light-coloured stone shapes the squares and alleys. At the Laas Marble World, you'll learn how the heavy blocks were transported down to the valley via the inclined plane and how the stone is now being shaped into new forms. Take your time at Brunnenplatz.
Steinhaus/Cadipietra and Prettau/Predoi tell the story of mining. The Prettau Climate Tunnel is located in a disused mine and the miners have even left their mark on the local language. “Lissn amo”, meaning "listen up", is what they say here. The expression is reminiscent of English miners who once worked in the Prettau Mountain Mine.
Further up the valley in Kasern/Casere, lace makers continue to practise their craft to this day. And in Mühlwald/Selva dei Molini, the sound of rushing water serves as a reminder of the work that used to take place in the mills and sawmills.
In Freienfeld/Campo di Trens, trails lead to meadows, farms and lookout points and those who want to go higher can hike to Lake Puntleidersee at 1,850 metres. In Pfitsch/Val di Vizze, the Zillertal Alps accompany you all the way to the Pfitscher Joch pass, where South Tyrol and North Tyrol meet. From Gossensass/Colle Isarco the unspoiled Pflerschtal valley leads you through forests, past old stone farmsteads and on towards the Stubai Alps.
In Moos in Passeier/Moso in Passiria, you'll be exploring the Texel Group Nature Park, the Timmelsjoch pass and quiet side valleys. Places that offer plenty of space for peaceful days. In Pfelders/Plan, it's even quieter, since this vacation resort in the Passeiertal Valley has been virtually car-free since 2007.
In Ahornach/Acereto and Rein in Taufers/Riva di Tures, you can really feel how close the three-thousand-metre peaks are as you hike through the forests and pass by waterfalls. And you'll understand why Ahornach was accessible only on foot for a long time.
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