Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
sort becomes a busy base for walkers and climbers in summer. Challenging trails lead
quickly to high altitudes, including trail No 28, which crosses the Passo di Madriccio
(3123m) into the Val Martello.
Located - literally - inside a hill, the
Messner Mountain Museum - Ortles
( 0473 61 32 66;
www.messner-mountain-museum.it
; adult/reduced €6/5; 2-6pm Wed-Mon, 1-7pm summer, closed May
& Nov)
articulates the theme of 'eternal ice'. Messner's
Yak & Yeti
(
0473 61 35 77; Località
Solda 55)
restaurant, in a 17th-century farmhouse, is at the entrance.
Solda's
tourist office
( 0473 61 30 15;
www.ortlergebiet.it
; 9am-noon & 3-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-
noon Sat)
has information on activities and the Ortles tourism website has a comprehensive
accomodation booking service. SAD buses connect Solda with Merano (via Spondigna),
summer weekdays only.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Val Gardena (Gröden/Gherdëina)
Despite its proximity to Bolzano, Val Gardena's historical isolation amid the turrets of
Gruppo del Sella and Sassolungo has ensured the survival of many pre-mass-tourism tra-
ditions. Ladin is a majority tongue and this linguistic heritage is carefully maintained. The
pretty and bustling villages are full of reminders of this distinct culture too, with folksy
vernacular architecture and a profusion of woodcarving shops.
In recent times, the valley has become an 'everyman' ski area, with the emphasis firmly
on classic runs and fine powder. The valley's main trilingual towns,
Ortisei
(St Ulrich; pop
5650, elev 1236m),
Santa Cristina
(pop 1900, elev 1428m) and
Selva
(Wolkenstein; pop
2580, elev 1563m) all have good facilities.
Sights
Museum de Gherdëina
( 0471 79 75 54;
www.museumgherdeina.it
;
Via Rezia 83, Ortisei; adult/reduced €7/4.50; 10am-
noon & 2-6pm Mon-Fri, closed Mon in winter)
Ortisei's Museum de Gherdëina has a particularly
exquisite collection of wooden toys and sculptures.
MUSEUM
Activities
