San Leonardo, named after the St. Leonhard Parish Church, forms the centre of the municipality of Badia in the Alta Badia
Image gallery: San Leonardo in Badia
San Leonardo in Badia (St. Leonhard in Abtei) is particularly proud of its Rococo-style St. Leonhard Church, considered one of the most beautiful churches in South Tyrol. Together with Pedraces on the other side of the Rio Gadera, San Leonardo forms the centre and main village of the municipality of Badia. The impressive Sasso di Santa Croce Massif towers over the holiday village.
At its foot stands the La Crusc Pilgrimage Church - a worthwhile excursion. Where exactly? At the edge of the typical Ladin mountain village, the La Crusc Cable Car departs, ascending to the meadows below Mt. Sasso di Santa Croce. The first section takes you to the Summer Park La Crusc. There, a mini-zoo with alpacas, donkeys, and rabbits, as well as exciting play stations for visitors of all ages, await you amidst the impressive mountain scenery of the Dolomites.
You then continue with section II, a gondola lift, up to the pilgrimage church in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park. In winter, the area around San Leonardo in Badia becomes a starting point for snowshoe hikes and ski tours. The La Crusc Cable Car also serves as the gateway to the Alta Badia Ski Resort, whose slopes also extend beneath the Sasso di Santa Croce Massif.
San Leonardo, known in Ladin as San Linert, has retained much of its original character. Several famous personalities were also born here. These include the two artists Lois Anvidalfarei and Lois Irsara, as well as the first saint born in South Tyrol, Josef Freinademetz, known in Ladin as Ujöp.
