Spinga near Rio di Pusteria is known for the “Battle of Spinga” and other stories and tales
The small mountain village of Spinga (Spinges) is only inconspicuous at first glance: Its stories tell of battles, heroes and sorcerers. For almost a millennium, the village has been situated on a sunny terrace above the Valle Isarco. An important chapter in the Tyrolean freedom fights was written here: in the "Battle of Spinga", a contingent of Schützen fought against Napoleon's troops.
A girl from the village, Katharina Lanz, emerged from this battle as a heroine. Katharina Lanz, the "Joan of Arc of Tyrol", is still depicted with a pitchfork today: On the 2nd of April 1797, when the French invaded, Katharina defended her homeland from the cemetery wall alongside the Schützen. Another figure in the village's history is the "Lauterfresser", whose real name was Matheus Perger, who was executed as a sorcerer and witcher in the 17th century.
A few buildings in the village are worth seeing: The late-Gothic Parish Church of St. Rupert and the 17th-century Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre stand near the war memorial. Families enjoy meeting at the Spinga Bunker recreation area. It is an old bunker from the Alpine Wall, surrounded by wooden loungers. These are also called the "family solarium" and serve as a place for adults to relax, while slides, a water feature, balancing logs and a climbing tower await the children. You can visit the bunker: The emplacements for machine guns and an anti-aircraft gun can still be seen.
From Spinga, hiking trails lead you to the managed Anratter Hut, which is known for its specialities. You can also do the tour by mountain bike, and in the colder months it is also suitable as a winter hike. In addition to the petting zoo and playground, the dumplings here are a particular favourite: Every day, there is a choice of 15 different types of dumplings and dumpling dishes.
