The area of Collepietra includes the villages of Prato Isarco (315 m), Collepietra (823 m), Cornedo (500 m) and San Valentino (1117 m). From this differences of altitude one can already see that it is a diversified area offering a variety of free time activities.
First of all many walking trails, most of them laid out in a circular fashion, offering on the most beautiful spots traditional huts to have some refreshments. The earth pyramides of Collepietra are a fascinating natural spectacle. A tour into the past is offered by the country museum in Collepietra.
In the different villages traditions are widely cultivated and shown on occasions at festivals and other events.
In the only observatory of South Tyrol one can now have a look of the starry firmament in a clear night, and with professional guidance penetrate into the depths of the univers.
Nova Levante
Nova Levante (1182 m) nestles between the Catinaccio and the Latemar and forms the entrance to the Western Dolomites.
Included in the area of Nova Levante ist he alpine area around the Lake Carezza (1560 m) until the Passo Costalunga (1752 m).
In the forest of Carezza, an area of about 1000 ha, one finds the valuable wood for the making of string and plucking instruments.
Fiè allo Sciliar
The area of Fiè reaches from a heigth of 315 m to that of 2564 m above sea level. The level of settlements which are inhabited the whole year round are situated on a hight of 1130 m. Between hights and lower areas lie gentle low mountain ranges and valleys formed by glacier in ancient times: here lies the village of Fiè (880 m).
Nature Park House Sciliar
Nature Park House Sciliar
The Sciliar Nature Park House was opened in the locality Lavina Bianca at the entrance of the Ciamin valley.
This information point is situated in the building of the old sawmill "Steger Säge", a rare example of a Venetian water powered sawmill. The building was renovated some years ago and the sawmill is able to function again. The nature park organises in summertime tours with experienced tour-guides.
The Provincial Museum of Archeology was inaugurated in 1998. In addition to its permanent exhibit 'The Iceman', it documents the prehistory and early history of South Tyrol from the end of the last Ice Age (about 15,000 BC) to the time of Charlemagne (around 800 AD). The museum offers an exciting trip through prehistoric times in the Alps. Relief models, reconstructions, stereoscopic images, videos, and interactive multimedia stations all make the journey back in time believable and, at the same time, entertaining. Inserted into the historical context, the heart of the exhibit is 'The Iceman', sometimes also called 'Ötzi', and the objects found with him. The internationally famous mummy from the Copper Age and the numerous, extremely well-preserved objects found with him provide a unique view of the way of life thousands of years ago.
The palace that today houses the Provincial Museum of Natural History was formerly the administrative office building of Emperor Maximilian I. The natural and environmental history of South Tyrol is exhibited on two floors with an area of about 1,000 sq. m. (11,000 sq. ft.) Interesting featured exhibitions are displayed on the ground floor (about 200 sq. m. / 2,200 sq. ft.) There are also instructional events. The itinerary through the exhibit takes the form of a journey through time, assisted by models, dioramas, experiments, and multimedia stations that shed light on the geological history of South Tyrol and the formation and development of the natural habitat.
Prösels Castle proudly stands facing the imposing massif of the Schlern, across from the village Völs am Schlern (Fiè allo Scilar). First mentioned in the 13th cen., the fortress was the residence of the lords of Völs-Colonna, and around 1517 it was rebuilt by them into a prestigious castle complex with the most modern defense technology of the period. Since 1981 it has been owned by the 'Kuratorium Schloß Prösels GmbH' (Prösels Castle Curatorship Ltd.), which took care of the necessary restoration work and gave the castle new life. In addition to the tours, numerous cultural events are held here during the summer months. Among the highlights are the arms collection with material from the 19th cen., including from the battlefields of Solferino and Custoza, and the Batzenhäusl Collection, with paintings and drawings from the 19th and 20th cen., when the Batzenhäusl inn in Bolzano (Bozen) was a favorite meeting place for artists and intellectuals.
The Hofburg castle, the former residence of the prince-bishops of Bressanone, houses the collection of the diocese with sacred artwork from the Romanesque period to the Modern Era, the treasures of the cathedral, textiles, the history of the diocese and the princedom, and crèches.
This is one of the most significant monasteries in Tyrol, and the majority of it is open to the public: the Baroque collegiate church with famous ceiling frescoes by Matthäus Günther, the medieval cloister with frescoes from the 14th and 15th cen., the library with its collection of precious manuscripts, and the art gallery with its impressive collection of Gothic panel paintings (by Friedrich Pacher, Marx Reichlich, and Andreas Haller).
The history of the Gardena Valley (Gherdeina or Gröden Valley) is on display. The archeological collection from prehistory and early human history, which has recently been newly displayed, presents unique finds from the Alps, such as the Iron Age archeological complex from Col de Flam. The museum also has extraordinary collections in the areas of natural history and mineralogy. Especially worthy of mention is the most comprehensive fossil collection in the Dolomites with the spectacular find of the Seceda ichthyosaurus. In addition, there is an herbarium, a butterfly collection, and stuffed local animals. A sculpture collection that includes precious sacred sculptures and numerous oil paintings document the artistic creations of the valley from the 17th through 20th centuries. Additional highlights are the only completely preserved Lenten veil in South Tyrol, a presentation of 300 years of the art of wood sculpture in the valley with a comprehensive collection of wooden toys, and a tribute to Luis Trenker, the famed actor and director of films with mountain settings. The memorial collection dedicated to him that has been in existence since 1990 was expanded in March 2004 by the complete artistic legacy, the 'Luis Trenker Central Archives': in addition to objects from his personal possession, documents of his artistic creation are presented.
Founded in 1955 as the first oenological museum south of the Alps, the South Tyrol Museum of Wine is today a branch of the Provincial Museum of Ethnography in Dietenheim (Teodone) near Bruneck (Brunico). It is located in the former tithe cellars of the ruling princes of Tyrol in the center of Kaltern (Caldaro) on the Weinstrasse (Wine Route) and offers a view of the time-honored winemaking tradition in the province. The itinerary takes the visitor through the different working seasons of winegrowers in the olden days and at the same time provides an idea of the significance of wine for the popular culture of South Tyrol.
South Tyrol Museum of Mining - Ridnaun-Schneeberg area
