Santa Cristina Village – beauties in Val Gardena

A small municipality in Trentino-Alto Adige, Santa Cristina is one of those villages immersed in nature where tradition and hospitality come together, attracting many visitors.

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The history of the village

A municipality of only 2,000 inhabitants located in the province of Bolzano, in Val Gardena, Santa Cristina was first known as S. Kristein in 1277 and later Italianized during Fascism. It is renowned not only for its centuries-old traditions, still alive today, but also for the family of Primus von Dosses, who since 1636, near the Church of Santa Cristina, organized a soup kitchen for the poor and needy—an act from which the municipal coat of arms derives. The village is also remembered for the five victims of the Gardena massacre (May 17, 1945) during the Tacoma sabotage mission.

Monuments, landmarks, and traditions

Despite its small size, Santa Cristina boasts numerous points of interest, such as:

• Church of Santa Cristina and Sant’Antonio Abate – one of the oldest places of worship in the valley, first mentioned in 1343 in an indulgence letter. The church, whose apse walls retain Romanesque features, has undergone several transformations over the centuries, layering Gothic and Baroque styles.
• Chapel on Monte Pana – built in the 1930s, designed by architect Franz Baumann.
• Castel Gardena – built in 1641 by the Counts of Wolkenstein as a residence. They enjoyed fishing in the nearby ponds. Today, although it shows some fortification features and remains one of the most important monuments of the municipality, it is privately owned and not open to visitors.
• Fusell – a late medieval house featuring a wooden lintel dated 1542, a vaulted kitchen, and a barn from the mid-18th century.
• Villa Anri – built in Neo-Baroque style in the 1920s, designed by Marius Ammon.
• Lago Santo – known from local tradition, which tells that its desecration by shepherds, once considered a sacred lake, caused the depression still visible today. It is one of the most appreciated natural sites in the municipality, home to remarkable biodiversity.

In addition to its many landmarks, the village is also famous for the hospitality of its people, who are actively involved in tourism and cultural life through numerous associations. These include the local band, founded in 1856, and the village choir.

For more information about the municipality, click here.

Are you ready to visit this picturesque little village?