Nessano is split in two: A small part on the other side of the Rio Nessano belongs to the municipality of Rasun Anterselva
Image gallery: Nessano
Continuing along the state road of the Val Pusteria, after the main village of Perca, a few houses come into view in the meadows on the left. This is one of the numerous hamlets of Perca: Nessano on the Rio Nessano. Interestingly, the small stream forms a boundary: The larger part of the village - which is not large in itself - belongs to Perca, while a few houses on the other bank are, strictly speaking, in the territory of Rasun Anterselva. The stream is also considered a linguistic boundary: It is said that this is where the Upper Val Pusteria dialect begins.
Cyclists are a common sight around Nessano (Nasen), as the Pusterbike Cycle Path runs right through here. In the middle of the greenery stands the Gothic village church: It dates from 1474 and is dedicated to St James, the patron saint of pilgrims, pharmacists, labourers and the weather.
A local saying states: "Jakobi klar und rein, wird's Christfest frostig sein". So, if 25 July, St James' Day, is fine, you can expect a Christmas with ice and snow. The church façade is adorned with paintings of Saint Christopher by the master Simon von Taisten, a late-Gothic Tyrolean painter - well worth a look if you are interested in art. The bus takes eight minutes from Nessano to Perca.
There, you can find shops and the valley station of the gondola to the Plan de Corones hiking and skiing area, part of the Dolomiti Superski carousel. It takes a little longer to get to Valdaora, where the outdoor swimming pool, a refreshing summer destination, is located right next to the train station. Both villages are also accessible by bike via the previously mentioned cycle path.
