Fraina, with its widely scattered farms, is the smallest hamlet in the mountain village of Laion
Image gallery: Fraina
Fraina (Freins) has just 45 inhabitants and provides a view of one of South Tyrol's most important landmarks: On the opposite side of the valley, the Sabiona Monastery is perched on the "Sacred Mountain of Tyrol". Below it lies the small artistic town of Chiusa. The nearest bus stop is located below Fraina on the Via Fraina road near the main village of the Laion municipality.
The small scattered settlement on the slopes of the Valle Isarco is situated away from through traffic. The charming little Church of St. John the Baptist also adds to the hamlet's appeal: A chapel stood here as early as 1239. The current building is thought to date from the 18th century. On the façade, frescoes from 1727 depict St. John the Baptist, St. Lawrence, the patron saint of bakers, brewers and cooks, St. Stephen and St. Christopher.
Together with the surrounding hamlets and farms, the municipality of Laion extends from the slope above Chiusa to the entrance of the Val Gardena. You can explore the surrounding area on a leisurely family walk. A tour of about three and a half hours takes you from Laion (Lajen) through forests and meadows via Albions to Fraina and back to the starting point.
Thanks to its quiet location away from the main tourist routes, Fraina is a good base for numerous shopping, cultural and sporting activities in the surrounding area. Worthwhile destinations include the historic old town of Chiusa with its narrow streets, the Val di Funes with the distinctive Odle peaks, as well as the Corno del Renon and Val Gardena ski and hiking areas.
