- Active holiday
CHIUSA
The City of Artists
Small, pretty and absolutely charming - welcome to the artists' city of Chiusa. Surrounded by vineyards and the breathtaking natural scenery of the "UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites", Chiusa fascinates visitors with its typical town atmosphere and natural landscapes!
Winding alleyways, narrow passageways, colourful façades, elegant boutiques and cosy cafés and restaurants make your stay in this romantic medieval town - also much loved by the painter Albrecht Dürer, who spent some time here - very special. Chiusa was also awarded the prize as one of the most beautiful old towns in Italy by the Italian association "I Borghi più Belli d'Italia".
For all sports and hiking enthusiasts, as well as those who love culture and fine cuisine, Chiusa is a highly recommended destination. The Säben Monastery, one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Tyrol, towers above Chiusa offering a fantastic view of the city centre.
And when the winter comes, you can't miss the traditional medieval Christmas market with its many handcrafted products and delicious South Tyrolean specialities.
“TÖRGGELEN”
The fifth season of the year
In autumn, when the days become shorter and nature turns golden, the Isarco Valley is home to the fifth season of the year: Törggelen. Now local hosts open the doors of their traditional inns and serve their guests tasty menus with home-made delicacies: barley soup, Schlutzkrapfen, dumplings, local meat, Surfleisch and Sauerkraut, pork chops and potato leaves (Kartoffelblattlen). To end on a sweet note, you can enjoy sweet filled krapfen (a tasty local speciality), roasted chestnuts and a glass of Vernaccia. Enjoy your meal!
Chiusa is also known as South Tyrol's Törggelen capital. Every year in September, the Isarco Valley opens the season with a traditional event: the "Gassltörggelen" Festival. For three Saturdays in a row, people celebrate the fifth season of the year with music, folk dancing, singing as well as with regional delicacies.
Hike and walking tours during the fall are particularly suggestive! After a pleasant Keschtenwanderung(chestnut hike) you can stop at a local inn and enjoy traditional Törggelen specialities accompanied by a good glass of South Tyrolean wine and a typical Marende with chestnuts.
ATTRACTIONS
Not to be missed!
There is so much to discover in and around Chiusa - culture, art, natural landscapes. In particular, we recommend to visit the
Holy Andreas Church in Chiusa, the Säben Monastery, the Branzoll Castle, the Villandro Mine, the highest pilgrimage place in Europe - the "Latzfons Cross" and the Villandro Alp with its Totenkirchl Church. A 15-minute drive will take you to the episcopal city of Bressanone, where you can admire the beautiful cathedral, the Hofburg and the cloister. Just outside the city you'll find the Abbey of Novacella of the Augustinian Order - the largest convent in Tyrol, and the Fortress of Fortezza/Franzensfeste, built in the 19th century - one of the most massive fortresses in the Alps.
30 km from Chiusa, in the province capital of Bolzano, you can visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology with Ötzi, the famous 5,000-year-old Similaun Mummy. After visiting the museum, we recommend a stroll along the medieval city arcades to Piazza Walther with the Bolzano Cathedral and Piazza delle Erbe.
