The Valle d’Altafossa near Maranza is ideal for excursions to lush green meadows and deep-snow fairytale landscapes
Maranza (Meransen) is situated on a south-facing terrace high above the Valle Isarco and the Rio Pusteria Fortress. With its numerous hours of sunshine, it is considered one of the sunniest places in South Tyrol. The centre of the village, located on the slope, is marked by the Parish Church to St. James and the Three Holy Virgins. Maranza is protected by its beautifully shaped local mountain: the Monte Cuzzo or Gitschberg, known locally as "die Gitsch" (Gitsch is also the Val Pusteria dialect word for girl). In summer, together with Jochtal, it forms the Gitschberg Jochtal hiking area.
In winter, it transforms into a ski resort with lifts that take you directly from Maranza onto the slopes. At the mountain station, a 360-degree viewing platform awaits, from where you can see around 500 mountain peaks at a single glance, creating a feeling of boundless space.
Back in the village, you will find various places to eat and drink, shops, and leisure facilities such as the mini-golf course, the indoor tennis centre, and the Alpinpool Maranza. From here, the route heads towards Monte Grosso. A relatively flat path leads from the houses of Monte Grosso into the Valle d'Altafossa (Altfasstal), an alpine pasture landscape that you can also explore on a llama trek.
In the valley itself, managed huts such as the Monte Grande Hut and the Wieser Hut invite you to take a culinary break. Historical traces indicate that the area has been frequented for a long time. Early evidence of Christianity can be found in the Valle d'Altafossa. Furthermore, a connecting route is said to have once led from Carinthia through the Val Pusteria, past Maranza, to Swabia and France. Ancient high-altitude trails also provided a connection to Valles and to Fundres.
