Rifiano

The municipality of Rifiano is located at the entrance of the Val Passiria at 500 m asl.

video: Val Passiria

Delimited by the Stubai, Oetztal and Sarentino Alps, above all hikers, climbers and golf players are familiar with this mountain valley. On a length of 40 km, it stretches from Merano the the Passo Giovo and the Passo del Rombo. Also the famous freedom fighter Andreas Hofer was born in this valley. The Sandhof, its birthplace, today hosts a museum that is dedicated to the Tyrolean freedom fights.

Rifiano, located at a high-altitude terrace at the entrance of the Val Passiria, is located only 5 km from the city of Merano and benefits from its particularly mild climate, as it is located on high-altitude terrace oriented towards south-east.

The municipality has got some 1,290 inhabitants living in the villages of Gaveis, Tschenn, Magdfeld, Vernurio and Rifiano village, all belonging to the municipality. By the way, Rifiano is situated on the terrain of the Gruppo di Tessa nature park and is surrounded by chestnut trees and vineyards. If you would like to spend your holidays in this place, we highly recommend you a walk along the Roggia di Rifiano, or, more challenging, a hike on the Alta Via Meranese high path.

Rifiano was mentioned for the first time in 1116, the name probably derives from the Latin name “Rufius”. In the Middle Ages, the village used to be a famous pilgrimage site.