Santa Maddalena between history and mountain landscapes

Santa Maddalena between history and mountain landscapes

Santa Maddalena combines sacred architectural history with experiences in nature, mountain views and activities in the village and its surroundings. This creates a destination where cultural impressions and landscape themes can be combined in different ways. When choosing your accommodation, you can first consider whether you mainly want to explore the village itself, the immediate surroundings or the wider regional area.

The church as a historic focal point

The first construction of the Santa Maddalena church was mentioned in 1394. The present church is a late Gothic building from 1492, while its interior features Baroque elements. Anyone interested in architecture and regional history will find a place here with a clearly recognisable historical development – from the early mention of the first building to the present-day church.

Visitor centre in the centre

The Puez-Odle Visitor Centre is located in the centre of S. Maddalena di Funes. At the visitor centre, you can walk across an aerial photograph of Puez-Odle Nature Park and view the park from a bird’s-eye perspective. The “Toccare le montagne” exhibition presents typical rock types and stratifications of the Dolomites. This allows you to get to know the landscape both as a physical place and through its geological formations.

The Odle and peaks in the immediate surroundings

Kleine Fermeda, Piccola Fermeda and Gran Odla are peaks in the immediate surroundings of Santa Maddalena. Sass Rigais is a mountain in the same immediate area. These mountain destinations complement a visit to the village with a focus on the landscape, which is particularly important for travellers interested in the Dolomites.

Cultural destinations in the surrounding area

The Chiesetta di San Giovanni in Ranui, a church, is located in the immediate surroundings of Santa Maddalena. The Museo Diocesano Hofburg Brixen is a museum in the area around Santa Maddalena. In the wider regional area, you will find Castel Salego, a castle; the Monastero di Sabiona, a monastery, is also located in the surrounding area. Around Santa Maddalena, you can therefore find a variety of cultural destinations, ranging from smaller religious buildings to a museum, castle and monastery.

Trails, lift and village festival

The Filler ski lift is located directly in the centre of Santa Maddalena and offers views of the Odle. At the Snowfunpark, children learn to slide in a playful way. A circular trail connects S. Pietro and S. Maddalena, passes historic votive pillars and offers views of the Odle. On 24 and 25 July, the voluntary fire brigades of Santa Maddalena organise a village festival with live music in the central square of S. Maddalena. If you plan your trip according to your interests, this brings together mountain views, an activity for children, a culture-oriented circular trail and a specific festival date.

Getting to the church

The access road to the church is closed to cars and accessible only to residents. Visitors park at the “Putzen” car park shortly after S. Maddalena and walk for approximately 30 minutes to the church. Take this walk into account when planning your day and choose your accommodation so that the destinations important to you are located in your preferred area.

More places for your trip to Italy

Pfelders, Völs Am Schlern, Longega, Kurzras, Innichen, Oberinn, Stulles, Pineta

To the higher-level travel overview: Bolzano.