Attractions, art and culture

On the trail of the knights

Above Sluderno is the majestic Castel Coira, one of the best preserved fortifications in South Tyrol. Don’t miss the world famous armoury, home of the largest private collection in Europe. The exhibits include the armour that belonged to the noble Matsch and Trapp families as well as crossbows, battle-axes and gunpowder flasks. Also worth a visit are the fabulous loggia with frescos depicting fantastic creatures that recall the family of the Counts.

More information on www.churburg.com.

The life of a Benedictine monastery

In the monastery of Monte Maria in Burgusio, for the past 900 years the monks conduct their lives according to the Rule of St. Benedetto. One attraction of this religious place is undoubtedly the crypt, consecrated in 1160, with its exquisite Roman frescoes. In addition, the convent has a remarkable musical archive with about 200 prints, more than 100 manuscripts and a collection of tools from different eras.

More information on www.marienberg.it.

The smallest town in the southern Alps

Glorenza is located at the foot of the Tarces hill in Alta Val Venosta. With just 900 inhabitants, it is the smallest town in the southern Alps. In addition to the medieval centre, the stunning stately homes, the arches and the arcades, you can admire the only perfectly preserved closed dam in the Alps, a historical treasure. Moreover, the South Tyrolean town hosts a permanent exhibition in the Tubra Tower dedicated to the most famous native, Paul Flora, an artist and caricaturist who died in 2009.

More information on www.glurns.it

Visiting the Benedictine monks

According to legend, Charlemagne, after being crowned king of the Lombards, was surprised by a snowstorm at Giogo di Santa Maria, from which he emerged unscathed. As thanks, he founded the monastery of San Giovanni Battista in Müstair, in the easternmost town of Switzerland, near Sluderno. In 1983, the female convent was declared a World Heritage Site. Today the monastery also houses a museum, allowing visitors to admire the treasures and frescoes, as well as to discover interesting facts about the monastic life.

More information on www.muestair.ch.

Nature to experience day by day

The Stelvio National Park is the second largest protected area in the Alps and includes the entire Ortler Group and the valleys of Livigno and Cancano. With 53,447 hectares, South Tyrol hosts 40 percent of the park area. All climatic zones are present, marked by extensive mountain forests, meadows, pastures and picturesque secluded icy areas. These habitats are home to numerous animals, including marmots, alpine ibex, chamois, bearded vultures and golden eagles.

More information on www.stelviopark.bz.it.

Water-centric

The Aquaprad visitor centre of the national park, located in the centre of Prato allo Stelvio, focuses on the theme of "water." Visitors have the chance to see twelve aquariums, discovering interesting information about the local aquatic fauna. On site you can closely observe the European pond turtle, once present in South Tyrol, as well as other reptiles and amphibians.

More information on www.stelviopark.bz.it.

A valley, a museum

The Museum of Val Venosta focuses on ecological, social and cultural issues, as well as archaeology and water resource management. With the permanent exhibition "Children of Swabia," the theme is the sad fate of many children of Val Venosta, sent to Swabia in the nineteenth century because of deep poverty, to work and ensure the survival of the family in their hometown.

More information on www.vintschgermuseum.com

The symbol of Val Venosta

A bell tower emerges from the surface of the waters of Lake Resia in Curon. The fourteenth century Romanesque church is a silent witness of the construction of a dam just after the end of World War II. Nearly 150 of Curon families lost their homes and livelihoods, and half of them were forced to emigrate. Today the bell tower in the lake is under the protection of cultural heritage and is the symbol of Val Venosta.

More information on www.reschen.it.