From the villages of the market town of San Candido at the foot of the Dolomites, lifts ascend to Monte Elmo and Mt. Rocca dei Baranci
In the far east of South Tyrol, in the Upper Val Pusteria, lies the market town of San Candido at the foot of the imposing Rondoi-Baranci Group in the Dolomites. The town's roots trace back to a Celtic settlement from pre-Christian times, and it was later known for its healing mineral spa.
Today, the municipality includes the village centre with its shops and small cafés, as well as the hamlets of Versciaco, from where the lifts to the Monte Elmo depart, and Prato alla Drava on the border with East Tyrol. As you stroll through the pedestrianised centre, you are accompanied by the tower of the San Candido Collegiate Church. It is one of the most significant Romanesque sacred buildings in the Eastern Alps and is closely interwoven with the town's long history.
In the adjoining MIK Museum im Kapitel, you can discover valuable art treasures. The village centre also regularly hosts events such as the San Candido Market Festival or the International Snow Sculpture Festival. The village has a special atmosphere at Christmas time: The "Christmas in the Dolomites" market, featuring local handicrafts and specialities, provides a tranquil alternative to the large Christmas Markets in South Tyrol.
Even from a distance, San Candido is a special sight, whether viewed from the main road running through the Val Pusteria, from the railway line that connected Vienna and the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the summer resorts in the Upper Val Pusteria as early as 1854, or from one of the hiking trails between Dobbiaco and San Candido, such as the one through the Valle San Silvestro.
Lifts to Mt. Rocca dei Baranci and the Monte Elmo depart from San Candido and Versciaco. Up in the Three Peaks Nature Park, you will find destinations such as the Fun Bob, Olperl's Nature Park and the realm of Gigante Baranci. In winter, the same lifts take you to the 3 Zinnen Dolomites Ski Resort, which connects five ski mountains between San Candido and the Val Comelico in Belluno.
