Montefranco Holy Cross is the name of the church in the hamlet of Montefranco on the Monte Tramontana in the Val Venosta
Image gallery: Montefranco
The Monte Tramontana separates the Val d'Ultimo from the Val Venosta and decreases gently down to the valley floor. On its slopes and below lie several hamlets and villages belonging to the municipality of Castelbello-Ciardes: One of these is Montefranco (Freiberg). Its church was built back in 1815 AD and is known today as Montefranco Holy Cross or Freiberg Heilig Kreuz, in German. The chancel, tower, and sacristy characterise the appearance of this village chapel.
The little village of Montefranco, or more precisely the "Alte Säge" car park (Old Sawmill car park), is a good starting point for hikes in the warmer months and for ski tours in winter. The hikers' car park actually owes its name to a sawmill: The old Montefranco Sawmill still stands beside it today. Some of these trails are also accessible by mountain bike and e-bike.
This is why the Monte Tramontana is popular with active holidaymakers and locals. Its counterpart rises on the other side of the valley: the sunny and steppe-like Monte Sole in the Val Venosta. From the Monte Tramontana, you can discover the Covolo Lakes and the hut of the same name, the Cirmoli Hut with its lake, the Tarres Alpine Pasture, and the Montefranco Mountain Hut.
At an altitude of almost 1,700 metres, a South Tyrolean Marende with speck and farmhouse bread, or with pickled vegetables and mountain cheese, tastes twice as good. From the small hamlet of Montefranco, the impressive mountain hike to the Marzon Hut is also possible.
