The little Church of St. Michael on the way to the Passo Pinei: Discover frescoes from different stylistic periods
Image gallery: San Michele di Castelrotto
From the main village of Castelrotto, a mountain road leads up to the Passo Pinei. This crossing into the Val Gardena is a popular route for road cyclists and mountain bikers. On this road lies the hamlet of San Michele (St. Michael) with its church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, a cultural gem in the middle of the Sciliar area. The church's patron saint is celebrated every year on St. Michael's Day, September 29. In the past, this date marked the beginning of the cold season, when autumn arrived, the harvest festival was celebrated, and work in the fields came to a rest.
Today, the mountain hamlet of San Michele di Castelrotto, located at an altitude of over 1,000 metres, forms the border between the German-speaking Sciliar area and the Ladin Val Gardena. It also has a Ladin name: San Michiel. Three other hamlets of Castelrotto are located on the slopes above the Val Gardena and are therefore usually considered part of the village of Ortisei.
From San Michele di Castelrotto, you can set out on various hikes, for example to the Alpe di Siusi or up to the Monte Bullaccia to the Witches' Benches. Legend has it that witches' dances and magic rituals once took place at these rock formations. The hike on the Geotrail Bulla, a journey through geological history between the Gardena Valley and the Pinei Pass, is also recommended.
In winter, it is only a 10-minute drive from here to the lift facilities to the Alpe di Siusi, which start in Siusi allo Sciliar. You can also reach them easily using public transport.
