A Ladin municipality in Alta Badia dominated by the Sasso di Santa Croce, with the Santa Croce sanctuary and the Armentara meadows.
A short history
Badia, Badia in Ladin, sits at 1,324 metres and gives its name to the whole valley. It is a scattered Ladin municipality, made up of hamlets and farmsteads spread across the slopes, dominated by the wall of the Sasso di Santa Croce that closes the horizon to the east.
Beneath that wall stands the Santa Croce sanctuary, La Crusc in Ladin, one of the oldest places of pilgrimage in the Dolomites. Around it open the Armentara meadows, alpine pastures that fill with flowers in spring and are tied to many Ladin legends of the Kingdom of Fanes.
Badia has kept the image of the traditional Ladin village more than other places, with mountain farming, the language and the festivals still at the centre of life. Tourism here is more low-key, tied to walks, alpine pastures and the trails towards the Sasso di Santa Croce.
The Santa Croce sanctuary was consecrated in 1484 and its origin is tied to a legend. It is said that the people of Badia wanted to build a chapel on Col d'Anví, but the workers kept injuring themselves. White birds carried away the blood-stained shavings and laid them at the foot of Monte Santa Croce; those who followed them were so struck by the beauty of the place that they decided to build the church there.
The municipality takes in the hamlet of La Val and lies on the border between the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park and the Puez-Odle one. Behind the wall of the Sasso di Santa Croce, the Sass dla Crusc in Ladin, tradition places the Kingdom of Fanes, at the heart of many Ladin legends.
How to fit Badia into a three, five or seven day trip: The Dolomites in 3, 5 or 7 Days: How to Plan Your Trip.
What to see
- The village of La Val and the Armentara meadows, the flowering pastures at the foot of the Sasso di Santa Croce.
- The Pralongià plateau, the wide sunny balcony of meadows and huts in Alta Badia.
- The Santa Croce sanctuary, a place of pilgrimage at the foot of its wall, and the trails climbing towards the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park.
How to get to Badia
By car you leave the A22 Brenner motorway at Bressanone/Val Pusteria, carry on to Brunico and climb the Val Badia on the SS244; the municipality of Badia gathers the hamlets along the valley floor just before La Villa. The nearest station is Brunico, linked by the Val Badia scheduled buses. The Santa Croce sanctuary is reached by cable car from La Villa or on foot.
When to go
Spring and summer, from May to September, are the best time for the Armentara meadows in bloom, the alpine pastures and the trails towards the Sasso di Santa Croce. Winter is quieter, tied to cross-country skiing and snowshoe walks. The sanctuary is a place of pilgrimage in the warm months.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Badia?
The Santa Croce sanctuary at the foot of its wall, the Armentara meadows with their blooms and the Pralongià plateau. It is the most traditional and rural face of Alta Badia.
Why is it called Badia?
The name Badia comes from the old religious ties of the area and gives its name to the whole valley, the Val Badia. The municipality gathers hamlets and farmsteads scattered below the wall of the Sasso di Santa Croce, one of the oldest places of pilgrimage in the Dolomites.
How do you reach the Santa Croce sanctuary?
You can go up by cable car from La Villa and then carry on on foot, or reach the sanctuary on the trails that start from the Badia area. It is a pilgrimage route at the foot of the great wall of the Sasso di Santa Croce.
Is Badia good for those looking for quiet?
Yes. Compared with the busier resorts of Alta Badia, Badia has kept the character of the Ladin village, with mountain farming and a more low-key tourism tied to walks, pastures and trails.
Why is Badia famous?
Badia gives its name to the whole valley and is dominated by the Sasso di Santa Croce. At the foot of the wall stands the Santa Croce sanctuary, consecrated in 1484 and tied to the legend of the white birds that showed where to build the church. Behind the mountain Ladin tradition places the Kingdom of Fanes.
What is there to do in Badia?
You walk towards the Santa Croce sanctuary and the Armentara meadows, in bloom in spring, and go up to the Pralongià. From here start the trails to the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park and to the Puez-Odle one, on whose borders the municipality lies.