Flair & Variety

Taufers Castle is just a stone’s throw away from Villa Calluna. A proud, mighty fortress dating from the 13th century, this landmark towers over the village of Sand in Taufers and harbours such sights as the princely chambers, the court room, a dungeon, an armoury and frescoes by Friedrich Pacher. It is open to the public all the year round and, time and again, is home to interesting exhibitions.

Get a first-hand impression of the world of mining in the abandoned St. Ignaz gallery of Prettau (Predoi). A mine railway takes you 1100 metres into the mountain where you learn about the hard work of copper mining and can visit the ”Ich atme“ (”I breathe“) climatic cure gallery, the only one in all of Italy. It is a place of utter peace and quiet, where you can recover and regenerate your strength: the unique microclimate and its pure air free from allergens has a soothing effect on sufferers from asthma, airway diseases and mild allergies. Open from March to October.

There are many waterfalls around Sand in Taufers, but those at Rein have special charm and attract many visitors during the summer months. An idyllic circular route takes you from the Villa Calluna to the three cascades – an impressive sight as the water thunders down into the Tobel gorge 50 metres below. And here’s a tip: walk on from the falls on the pilgrims’ path dedicated to St. Francis that leads up to the Clara and Francis Chapel. Take your time and feel the stillness around you and your walk will become a meditative experience.

The oldest and most important Museum of Folk Traditions in South Tyrol has its home on the impressive estate of Mair am Hof at Dietenheim near Bruneck/Brunico. An open-air museum covering an area of more than four hectares, it is dedicated to the history of the region. Visitors get a first-hand impression of the social history of the land, the life of its landed gentry, South Tyrolean arts and crafts, and the religious customs of its people. The Museum is open from spring till autumn.

At Bruneck Castle the mountaineer Reinhold Messner is about to open, in the spring of 2011, his fifth museum – an interactive museum dedicated to the life of people in mountain regions. The exhibits – works of art and tokens of everyday culture – provide insights into the life of the inhabitants of various mountain regions of the world. The Museum’s name, ripa, is Tibetan for “mountain man“ and underscores Messner’s endeavour to engage in a direct exchange of experience with local rural populations.