Varna is located near Bressanone, surrounded by vineyards, orchards, Novacella Abbey and Lake Varna
Varna is situated right next to Bressanone and is often considered a suburb of the episcopal town. The municipal area extends from the valley floor up into the high mountains: from the Novacella Abbey amidst the vineyards to the slopes of the mighty Sarentino Alps with the Valle di Scaleres valley and the mountain villages of Spelonca and Scaleres.
Varna is the first wine-growing area that you see when arriving from the north. As soon as the grapes are harvested in autumn, the season for the "Buschenschänke", the farm taverns, begins: This is the start of Toerggelen, a tradition where new wine, roasted chestnuts, and hearty home-style cooking are served. While it once celebrated the end of the harvest, today it is a culinary delight in the weeks of October and early November. The Valle Isarco is considered the birthplace of this custom.
The Augustinian Monastery of Novacella, with its Gothic cloister, museum, and abbey church, is particularly worth visiting. The canons of Novacella also cultivate their own wine, which you can taste in the abbey winery. If you are looking for peace and quiet in nature, you will find beautiful local recreational areas along the Rio di Scaleres stream and at Lake Varna.
The lake is a protected nature reserve and there is also an archery course on its shore. In the mountain villages of Spelonca and Scaleres, you can experience a quieter world where the mountains set the rhythm of life. Ambitious mountain bikers climb to the mountain villages on two wheels, while leisure cyclists prefer the Valle Isarco Cycle Path between Bressanone and Bolzano.
From Spelonca and Scaleres, you can hike to the Laghi Gelati lakes and up to Mt. Corno del Ceppo, as long as the trails are free of snow. As soon as the landscape is covered in snow, the latter becomes a popular destination for ski tours with panoramic views. Near Bressanone, skiers and snowboarders will find the Plose, the ski resort with one of the longest valley runs in South Tyrol.
