San Pietro, along with its main hamlet and the district of San Pietro in Valle, forms a small village community
Image gallery: San Pietro di Laion
The Parish Church of St. Peter the Apostle, the landmark of San Pietro, towers high above the hamlet's other houses and farms with its red onion dome. During festivals and processions, the San Pietro village band, which has a two-hundred-year history, provides a lively atmosphere. The centre is situated at an altitude of over 1,200 metres on the slopes at the entrance to the Gardena Valley. The houses of San Pietro in Valle are located further down, along the Val Gardena road.
After Laion, San Pietro is the second-largest district in the extensive municipality and the starting point for many hikes. The paths from the village lead up to excellent viewpoints. The Rasciesa High Alp, known in Ladin as Resciesa, is a particularly beautiful natural landscape. Together with the Rasciesa Forest, the entire area is protected as part of the Puez-Odle Nature Park.
To experience this landscape, the hike to Rasciesa di Fuori first takes you to the Ramitzler Schwaige, a small alpine hut with a sun terrace, before continuing onto the high pasture. At the highest point, just above the small Chapel of the Holy Cross, stands the Resciesa d'Or Crucifix. The magnificent, over seven-metre-high sculpture was carved from Swiss pine by Val Gardena artist Josef Bernardi. It is intended as a response to the imposing surrounding rock faces.
The old Post Trail to Ortisei, called Poststeig in German, also passes near San Pietro di Laion (St. Peter bei Lajen). This historic messenger route connected the Valle Isarco with the Val Gardena. Thanks to its proximity to Ortisei, the lift systems to other scenic locations, such as the meadows of Seceda, the Col Raiser and the Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi Skiing Area, are easily accessible.
