A visit in one of the deep drifts of a mine is a special holiday experience for kids.
Image gallery: Mines for kids
Driving deep into the interior of the earth equipped with a yellow raincoat, a helmet and a headlamp, families can retrace the hard lives of miners. There are several possibilities for visiting mines in the province of Bolzano, from the Valle Aurina to the area of Merano and surroundings.
The St Ignaz tunnel in the South Tyrol Museum of Mining - Location Predoi in the Valle Aurina has been transformed into a show mine about 20 years ago, that is today also integrated into an educational trail. The mine rail-road has been renewed and is today used for transporting visitors into the 250 m and 80 m long drifts. Of course you are accompanied by competent guides.
A similar scenario can be experienced in the South Tyrol Museum of Mining - Location Monteneve, which is by the way the highest-located mine of Europe at 2,355 m a.s.l. This is not a mere museum, but a place that makes you immerse into the world of mining. In the valley, however, there is the Location Ridanna.
Another place that provides an insight into the lives of miners is the Mine of Villandro at the Fundres Mountains in the Valle Isarco. A visit of the Elisabeth tunnel can be combined with a pleasant walk.
