Val Sarentino: treasures to discover off the beaten track

Less than half an hour’s drive from Bolzano, this valley retains a character distinct from that of other valleys in South Tyrol. For centuries, in fact, the difficult access has limited entry to the valley, helping to preserve a rich heritage of traditions and craftsmanship which still today is the hallmark of an area inhabited by just over seven thousand people spread across some thirty hamlets. Surrounded by the Sarentine Alps and crossed by the Talvera stream, this valley is a tourist destination that fully reflects its own identity, not least through its network of over 500 kilometres of footpaths, maintained thanks to the work of local volunteers and made easily accessible by the hiking bus service linking the village of Sarentino to the mountain passes and side valleys. Among the best-known routes for families is the Urlesteig in Reinswald, featuring interactive installations and play areas, whilst more experienced hikers can reach Lake Valdurna, from where other trails branch off towards alpine pastures and mountain huts at higher altitudes. Among the iconic landmarks of the Sarentino Valley, one cannot fail to mention the ‘Omini di Pietra’ (Stone Men), hundreds of cairns at an altitude of 2,000 metres shrouded in legends that remain unsolved to this day. A much more recent attraction, however, is the Marterloch suspension bridge, opened in 2025: at 272 metres long and 130 metres high, it is the longest and highest in the region and effectively retraces the ancient route that linked the valley to Bolzano, with information panels recounting the history of trade and the hydraulic works that still irrigate the local meadows today. The connection with tradition is fully experienced in places such as the Rohrerhaus farm-museum, where visitors can gain an intimate insight into the farming life of yesteryear, or by watching the daily work of the craftsmen who make the famous Sarner woollen jackets and Sarnar Toppar slippers. And finally, the cuisine: at the table, tradition brings dishes such as Striezel filled with speck, Sarentino gnocchi and products made from mountain pine – the valley’s symbolic plant, whose essential oil has been distilled here for over a century.

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