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Where is St. Christina?
St. Christina (Santa Cristina), Wolkenstein and St. Ulrich are the three communities of Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Italy. It is home to around 1,960 people who mostly speak Ladin - an old Romance language spoken in Gröden, Gadertal, Fassatal, Buchenstein and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Other official languages are German and Italian. The community is part of the autonomous province of Bolzano/Italy.
Tourism is the community’s main industry. In the west, St. Christina borders St. Ulrich, in the east Wolkenstein, with Cislesbach stream being the border. Puez-Geisler National Reserve (Ital. Parco Naturale Puez-Odle, Lad. Parch Naturel Puez-Odles) is located north east of St. Christina. (Ital. Parco Naturale Puez-Odle, Lad. Parch Naturel Puez-Odles). Cisles- und Mastlè-pasture, a popular hiking area, is nestled between the mountains Seceda (2519 m), Pitschberg (2363 m), Sass Rigais (3025 m), Furchetta (3025 m) and Stevia (2555 m). One of the most famous lakes is Lech Sant, at 2096 m – the “Holy Lake “.
St. Christina can be reached all year round via Val Gardena State Road, starting in the Eisack Valley. Depending on the snow situation, it is also possible to drive to St. Christina via Gardena Pass (2121 m, Jëuf de Frea) or Sella Pass (2218 m, Jëuf de Sela. These impressive passes over the Dolomites (World Heritage site) connect Val Gardena to Gader Valley (Val Badia) and Fasser Valley (Fascia).
What’s the weather like in St. Christina – Val Gardena?
Snowy winters make sure that skiing is at its best until spring. The summer is warm and dry and offers ideal conditions for hikes and other outdoor activities. The season’s highlight, however, is autumn: the landscape of Val Gardena turns into an enchanting golden play of lights and colours. Check out our live webcam for the current weather in St. Christina for today, tomorrow or the weekend.
Where to stay in St. Christina?
St. Christina is a tourism destination, attracting visitors all year round and offering a wide variety of accommodation from family-run guest houses to B&Bs, hotels and holiday apartments. Travelers enjoy staying at Dorfhotel Beludei, Hotel Interski or Alpinchalet Luispeck. Whether wellness or active holidays, you will find the right offer here in St. Christina.
What to do in St. Christina in the Winter?
St. Christina is paradise for every winter sports enthusiast. Val Gardens Ski Resort offers ski fun for everyone. Whether novice or expert skier, you will be thrilled by this world-renowned ski resort. Dolomiti Superski is the biggest ski area in the world, comprising twelve Dolomite ski resorts: more than 460 lifts transport 630,000 people per hour to 1,200 kilometres of pistes, which are groomed by more than 300 snowcats and about 5,000 snow cannons. St. Christina is also the ideal place to enter the famous Sellaronda. The 40km tour can be manged in one day. St. Christina is home to many ski schools, one of them has been awarded the gold medal of the Italian Ski federation (FISI).
You will find numerous cosy mountain huts and restaurants off the perfectly groomed pistes, boasting hospitality, great South Tirolean food and picturesque mountainscapes. Val Gardena is home to many bars and pubs perfect for partying, dancing and celebrating.
Since the turn of the millennium Monte Pana, 1,600m to 1,800m, is home to a Nordic ski centre with 38 km of cross-country skiing trails and two small ski jumps.
The yearly Christmas Market in St. Christina is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. The famous hand-carved Gröden figures are perfect gifts to take home.
What to do in St. Christina in the summer?
The World Heritage site of the Dolomites is definitely one of the most beautiful regions for extended hiking tours. Waymarked hiking paths lead past picturesque mountain lakes, magnificent mountain peaks and vast mountain pastures. Numerous huts offer South Tirolean delicacies. Ambitious hikers should aim for "Cristal d'Or": Get a hiking pass at the tourist office and stamp it at every hut on the way. Depending on the performance you will get a golden, silver, bronze or a quartz hiking medal.
The mountain passes are very popular among cyclists and motorbikers. Gardena Pass, connecting Val Gardena and Gader Valley, lies at an elevation of 2,121 m. Together with Sella Pass (2,218), Pordoi Pass (2,239 m) and Passo Campolongo (1875 m), Gardena Pass forms Sella Ronda.
Mountain bikers will find numerous bike rentals, great mountain biking infrastructure, downhill routes and breath-taking landscape in Val Gardena. The “Mountain Bike Holidays” portal awarded Val Gardena with the “Approved Bike Area” status – so far, the only in South Tirol. Bike events such as “HERO Südtirol Dolomites” and “Sellaronda Bike Day” attract thousands of sports enthusiasts every year.
For more excitement check out one of the many via ferratas, suitable for beginners, advanced and professional climbers.
Insider’s tip: Hiking tour to Tervela waterfalls. In 2008, a new trail was built, leading right beneath the 50 m waterfall. A vantage point at the end of the trail will be a special highlight.
