Localities
...The Beautiful Dolomite Valley in the Heart of the Nature Park...
Villnoess/Funes is the name for the entire valley, not just a single town. The valley has an East-West orientation, extending from the Geisler Group to its outlet in the Eisacktal / Val d'Isarco north of Klausen/Chiusa. It is 24 km long and displays a maximum altitude differential of 2,490 meters. This orientation of the valley and its special geological structure – characterized by the overlaying of geological younger formations by older quartz phyllite – dominate the landscape and had a marked influence upon its settlement.
The community of Villnoess/Funes consists of six municipal districts and various hamlets: Teis/Tiso, St. Valentin / San Valentino, St. Jakob / San Giacomo, Coll/Colle, and St. Magdalena / Santa Maddalena. St. Peter / San Pietro is the main town.
ST. MAGDALENA / SANTA MADDALENA – 1,339 m above sea-level
In the rear part of the valley – called "in the Mountain" by the locals – you'll find the village of St. Magdalena / Santa Maddalena, which has experienced the highest growth in population in recent years. The Church of St. Magdalena / Santa Maddalena is located at a spot at the foot of the Ruefen Mountain where (according to legend) the Fopal Brook "in the Mountain" yielded the wondrous image of St. Magdalene. The church - together with the adjacent sacristy, the old School House, and the "Obermesnerhof" farmstead - form a unique ensemble which, against the backdrop of the Geisler Group, is a popular photographic subject. The "Ranuihof" farmstead with the St. Joseph's Church in Ranui, a small painted Baroque church the construction of which in 1744 was sponsored by Michael von Jenner, is likewise noteworthy.
ST. PETER / SAN PIETRO – 1,150 m above sea-level
St. Peter / San Pietro consists of a group of houses huddled around the St. Michael's Chapel (Pitzack/Pizzago) and the sunny village center with its parish church. The large parish church was consecrated in 1801 in honor of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Next to the church, there's a 65-meter-tall bell tower with an onion-shaped dome. Due to its large size and rich Baroque style, the parish church is also known as the "Cathedral in the Valley." Below the church, you'll find the Community Center in which the Post Office and the Tourist Agency are also located. Additional structures include the House of Culture, the elementary school, the medical station, the library, and the sports center, emphasizing the fact that St. Peter / San Pietro is the community's main settlement. St. Peter / San Pietro is the ideal starting-point for easy hikes through the mid-range mountains.…
ST. JAKOB / SAN GIACOMO – 1,265 m above sea-level
The Church of St. Jakob / San Giacomo is located on higher ground visible from some distance and is therefore a popular look-out point. From here, you have a panorama of the entire valley. An impressive fresco of St. Christopher can be viewed on the outside of the church, indicating that the church was situated at an important crossroad – after all, St. Christopher is the patron saint of all travelers.
TEIS/TISO (963 m) & NAFEN/NAVE (797 m above sea-level)
Teis/Tiso (960 m above sea-level)
Located on a sunny hill above the entrance to the valley, the village of Teis/Tiso has its own school and parish church, while the hamlet of Nafen/Nave is proud of its notable little church dedicated to St. Bartholomew (first documented mention in the year 1307). Chestnut trees, fruit trees, and grapes grow in this sunny area, which is protected against the wind. The delicious Silvaner grapes to be found growing on the slopes at an elevation of approx. 900 m above sea-level (the highest in the Val d'Isarco) are especially noteworthy.
……A World of Crystals…
Teis/Tiso is also well-known because of its so-called "Teiser Geods" – i.e. hollow, fist-sized mineral nodules containing beautiful violet amethyst crystals. Numerous especially fascinating specimens can be viewed at the Mineralogical Museum of Teis/Tiso, where their complex geological origins are also explained.
....Nafen/Nave (790 m above sea-level)....
The scattered hamlet of Nafen/Nave (at an elevation of 790 m above sea-level) is located on a mid-range mountain terrace between the Val d'Isarco and the Val di Funes. Since the year 1300, the little St. Bartholomew Church – a jewel of medieval art (with a valuable Gothic winged altar) – has been the middle point of this hamlet. This quiet place is surrounded by fruit orchards and vineyards, cherry trees and chestnut trees, and offers a particularly restful and peaceful atmosphere.
....Grape Harvest....
In the Val d'Isarco, viticulture (grape-growing) has a long tradition. It would hardly have lasted so long if the wine produced here weren't of an especially high quality. But success doesn't come easy. Rather, industrious vintners laboring in the vineyards and skilled cellar masters are also necessary ingredients for truly outstanding wines.
COLL/COLLE 1,350 – 1,590 m above sea-level
From St. Peter / San Pietro, a road leads to the highest part of the community, the village of Coll/Colle, which comprises numerous individual farm estates. The good condition of the many farmhouses and barns indicate that, although the Alpine farmers lead a difficult life, tourism has done much to improve the standard of living here.
ST. VALENTIN / SAN VALENTINO – 1,150 m above sea-level
Farther out of the valley, on the sunny side, you'll find the municipal districts of St. Valentin / San Valentino and St. Jakob / San Giacomo. The Church of St. Valentin / San Valentino – perhaps the oldest existent church in the valley – is of great art historical significance, displaying as it does elements of both the Romanesque and Gothic styles. Its crowning glory is the Gothic winged altar with a triptych by a master of Brixen/Bressanone from the school of Michael Pacher.
ST. FLORIAN – 1,322 m above sea-level
....The Iron Spring in Flitz/Valluzza....
Flitz/Valluzza acquired notoriety because of its iron spring, which is located at an elevation of 1,760 m above sea-level in steep terrain and which derives from the borderland between phyllite slate and porphyry. An analysis by Dr. Josef Liebl and the pharmacist Peer from Brixen/Bressanone determined that the water from this spring contains iron oxide and free sulfuric acid. Both of them consider the water to have healing and haemostatic properties.
