Ortisei

Together with the smaller villages of S. Cristina and Selva Val Gardena, Ortisei (St. Ulrich in German and Urtijëi in Ladin) is located in Dolomites Val Gardena, South Tyrol. Ortisei became famous thanks to its artfully decorated and carved wooden sculptures, which have been prepared by the deft hands of woodcarver families for generations now. The Dolomites Val Gardena craftsmanship continues to this very day to be a main driver of woodcarving offering a lot more than the world-famous nativity scenes.

Traditional hotels and beautiful residential buildings from the turn of the century characterise the village of Ortisei. Tourism has been the most important industry in the area already since the 19^th century. The pedestrian area in Ortisei connects the chapel of Saint Ulrich to the Antonius church, and is described as the most beautiful shopping street in the Dolomites. Holiday-goers and other tourists can shop in the beautiful boutiques or sit down in one of the countless village cafes and enjoy a slice of homemade cake.

Ortisei is located right in the centre of Dolomites Val Gardena and is surrounded by countless mountains which make the location an ideal starting point for hikes and ski tours. The Seceda, Pitschberg mountain and the Resciesa are just some of the most important mountains that define the beautiful view from Ortisei.

We cannot say whether the penchant to Christianity in the area was determined by the heavenly location in the mountains or the direct confrontation with nature. However, what is certain, in 17^th century countless families in Ortisei dedicated their lives to woodcarving and especially to creating biblical figures, representations of saints, and altars. To this very day, religious woodcarvings from Dolomites Val Gardena are coveted all over the world. Especially in the United States, the individuality and the high-quality of the woodcarving art of today is highly esteemed.

Sources prove that from the second half of the 19^th century, mountain climbers discovered the beauty of Ortisei and visited the village, using it as the starting point for their mountain tours. In 1970, the Alpine Ski World Cup took place in Ortisei. Today, Ortisei is a pocket of heaven on earth for winter athletes of all disciplines. After the end of the winter sports season, hikers and mountain bikers come flocking to the location.

Ortisei invites visitors to stroll, browse and enjoy the atmosphere of the village. In the lively pedestrian zone, it is worth looking not only at the shop windows, but also at the beautiful façades and cultural details of the village. The churches and chapels are particularly worth seeing, as they house numerous works by Val Gardena sculptors.

The parish church of St. Ulrich impresses with Renaissance and Baroque elements as well as finely crafted woodcarvings. In St. Jacob’s Church, the oldest church in Val Gardena, visitors can admire the Baroque high altar with figures created by the Vinazer family of artists. St. Anna’s Church and the surrounding cemetery also tell of important personalities such as Luis Trenker and Ludwig Norman-Neruda.

A visit to the Museum Gherdëina offers deeper insights into the history of the valley, Val Gardena woodcarving and the legacy of Luis Trenker. On walks around Ortisei, you will also come across monuments, ruins and traditional farmhouses that bring the village’s culture and history to life.

You can expect cultural and musical events as well as sports competitions, during the lush green summertime but also whitewashed winter scenery. For every taste and every season.