Hotel Alpin Garden not only is a superb
starting base for hiking activities, it is also a great base to explore the many stunning natural spectacles presented by the
Gardena valley. The valley is located right at the heart of the
Dolomites World Heritage site where you will find gentians on soft hills and flowery meadows, and where you will be able to find the time to relax and unwind and concentrate on yourself. The Dolomites are also called "pale mountains" by the locals, and make for a truly extraordinary backdrop to
many activities with their raw, jagged cliffs and peaks. The area is ideal for a wide range of activities such as
mountain biking (bikes can be rented at the hotel for free), climbing and mountaineering as well as Nordic Walking. If you're looking for relaxation, why not stroll around the idyllic village centre of Ortisei or visit some of the cultural destinations around
Alpin Garden Wellness Resort.
Stunning views
From Ortisei, a cable car will take you up to Seceda, where you will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the Puez, Le Odle, Sella and Sasso Lungo mountain ranges. The trail up to Sass Rigais and Le Odle leads up to an altitude of 2,450 metres above sea level and then descends to Regensburger Hütte Alpine hut, and then to Selva. A more relaxing walk is the one into the traditional Anna valley, where time seems to have stood still in the last decades, and during "Toerggele" time (a period of the year where traditionally people get together, eat chestnuts and taste the young wine) you will find plenty of traditional inns to keep you busy. There is an excellent network of hiking trails and Alpine routes in the area, making it easy to explore the Dolomites – we can guarantee that these memories will stay with you forever.
Relax and unwind
Ortisei, the main town in the Gardena valley, is located on an altitude of 1,236 metres above sea level, right at the start of the valley. The town has a very particular charm, which is easy to discover on a quiet stroll through the pedestrian centre with its stylish shops and cosy restaurants. Tradition is very important in the valleys, and sometimes you will feel that not much has changed here in the last decades – there is certainly no evidence of the frantic, unhealthy pace of some modern cities here in Ortisei. That doesn't mean that nothing ever happens, though: in fact, there is a variety of musical events, cultural manifestations and internationally renowned fairs all year round, such as the popular Sella Ronda Bike Day, UNIKA sculpture fair and Miss Italia pageants. Stay at Alpin Garden Wellness Resort and discover the truly unique, stunning region of South Tyrol.
Sights
St. Jacob's Church is located above Ortisei and easy to reach by foot, near the old "Troi Paian" trail which used to lead all the way into the nearby Isarco valley via a number of passes in the Dolomites. The valley's oldest church is dedicated to St. Jacob, the patron saint of the hikers and pilgrims. Another attraction is San Silvestro Chapel in Selva, which is easy to reach on a short walk from the car park at the beginning of the valley. Gardena Castle, meanwhile, located right between Selva and Santa Cristina, is a renaissance-style castle which is well worth seeing. From Selva you can walk up to the Selva castle ruins where Oswald Von Wolkenstein, the famous troubadour, used to dwell and compose his melodies.
Another interesting fact: At Monte Pana, a massive, 2-metres in diameter sundial can be found which tells the time for Santa Cristina and 60 more cities all over the world. Another very popular destination is the Bulla mills, which were built in the 18th and 19th century, and were used to process the wheat of the surrounding farms. Some of the mills have recently been restored and are today in full working order.
So much to see
At the cultural centre in Ortisei, the new ART52 exposition provides the visitors with fascinating insights into the arts and crafts of the region of Gardena. On a surface of 330 sqm, you will find the works of art of 52 local sculptors and painters, testifying to a tradition of arts in the area that is more than 400 years old.
