Kunst & Cultuur

Val Gardena used to be part of a territory called "Ladinia", and the traces of its two thousand year old history are still visible. "Ladin" is a Rhaeto-roman language that is still spoken in the four Ladinian valleys of the Dolomites. Ladin originated from a mix of Latin, spoken by the Roman conquerors, and Celtic (Rhaetian), the language of the territory's first inhabitants. This particular historical circumstance makes of Val Gardena the emblematic meeting point of many European cultures.

The preservation of traditions and cultural patrimony and especially of the Ladin language are a bulwark of this people. "Bën unì" = "Welcome": by listening to this arcane language or watching a day of celebration with the Gardenesi dressed in their traditional costumes, it is possible, as if by magic, to rediscover all the shine and glamour of the past.

UNIKA has a new exhibition room. "Galaria UNIKA" at the Typak-Center in Via Arnaria 9 in Ortisei - Roncadizza.

52 exhibitors welcome you! Here you can admire handcarved sculptures and art-paintings by craftsmen from Val Gardena and locally produced carvings.

The Gherdëina Local Heritage Museum is situated right in the centre of Ortisei and exhibits valuable collections related to the cultural and natural history of the Gardena Valley.