San Michele - Castelrotto - Alpe di Siusi - Sciliar area

The idyllic little St. Michael Church on the way to the Passo Pinei shows you different stylistic eras and interesting frescoes

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Panoramic view on the farms near San Michele against the backdrop of the mighty Odle Group, which is also part of the Dolomites.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The feast of the church’s patron saint, the Archangel Michael, is celebrated in September: It used to mark the beginning of the cold season.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Spring in the hamlet of San Michele, an ensemble of houses, farms, a restaurant and the church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Here you are on the way from the Sciliar area to the Passo Pinei, the rather low crossing into the Val Gardena valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The Romanesque Church of St. Michael probably dates back to around 1000 AD, when the saint was the favourite patron saint of the Ottonians.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The paintings on the outer wall of the church date from the 15th century and were rediscovered only some time ago.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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In the past, the church also served as a resting place, and its elevated position in the Sciliar area offers a beautiful view towards Castelrotto.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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A hike leads from Castelrotto or the Alpe di Siusi up to the Witches’ Benches, the legendary rock formations on Mount Bullaccia.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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From there you can overlook the whole area, here in the picture you can also see San Michele on the road to the Passo Pinei.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The Geotrail Bulla leads past the Pinei Saddle, a geologically interesting trail that tells the story of the formation of the Dolomites.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Autumn in San Michele: In late autumn, here in October, Mt. Bullaccia is already partly snow-covered.
Foto: AT, © Peer

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From Castelrotto village, a mountain road leads you up to the Pinei Saddle, the crossing into the Val Gardena and a popular route for racing cyclists and mountain bikers. Along this road you will find the village of San Michele (St. Michael) with its St. Michael the Archangel Church, a cultural jewel in the heart of the Sciliar area. This 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 moved into the country, harvest thanksgiving was celebrated and work in the fields rested.

Today, the mountain village of San Michele at an altitude of well more than 1,000 m also forms the border between the predominantly German-populated Sciliar region and the Ladin-speaking Val Gardena. It also has a Ladin name: San Michiel. Three other districts of Castelrotto lie on the slopes above the Val Gardena and are thus usually counted as part of Ortisei in the Val Gardena.

A variety of hikes to the Alpe di Siusi and Mt. Bullaccia to the famous Witches' Benches are recommended from here. It is said that witch dances and magic cults took place at these rock formations until the Middle Ages. Also recommended is the hike on the Geotrail Bulla, a journey in the footsteps of the earth's history between the Val Gardena and the Pinei Pass. In winter, the lifts to the Alpe di Siusi are only 7 km away and can also be easily reached by public transport.

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