A Ladin village at the foot of the Dolomites of Fanes, known for fine dining, its prehistoric site and as the gateway to the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park.
A short history
San Cassiano, San Ćiascian in Ladin, sits at 1,537 metres in a side branch of the Val Badia, at the foot of the mountains rising towards Fanes. It is a small, compact Ladin village that grew up around the church and the farmsteads, and with tourism it has made a name in fine mountain cuisine.
Above the village, on the Pralongià, remains of cave bears and traces have been found that tell a very old story of these mountains. The area is the gateway to the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, a land of Ladin legends, alpine pastures and wild peaks.
San Cassiano has chosen a kind of tourism attentive to quality and tradition. The Ladin language remains the fabric of daily life, and the pastures of the Pralongià, which turn into pistes in winter, become meadows and huts again in summer.
The village is home to the Museum Ladin Ursus ladinicus, dedicated to the cave bear of the Dolomites. The remains were found on 23 September 1987 at 2,800 metres, in the cave below the Cima delle Conturines, by the innkeeper and alpine guide Willy Costamoling. The bear, which lived here tens of thousands of years ago, gave its name to the species Ursus ladinicus. In the museum the cave is reconstructed with the bear and its cub.
Despite its small size, San Cassiano is one of the best-known food destinations in the Dolomites. Alongside the everyday Ladin dishes, canederli and cajincí, the village is home to starred restaurants that combine mountain produce with fine cuisine.
How to fit San Cassiano 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 Pralongià plateau, the balcony of meadows and huts that links San Cassiano to Corvara and La Villa.
- The village of La Val and the Armentara meadows, the flowering pastures at the foot of the Sasso di Santa Croce, not far from the village.
- The Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, with its alpine pastures and Ladin legends, which opens up behind San Cassiano.
How to get to San Cassiano
By car you leave the A22 Brenner motorway at Bressanone/Val Pusteria, reach Brunico and climb the Val Badia on the SS244 to La Villa, from where a side road rises to San Cassiano. From the south you arrive over the Valparola pass. The nearest station is Brunico, linked to the village by the Alta Badia scheduled buses.
When to go
Summer, from June to September, is the season for hikes towards Fanes and the Armentara meadows, with the lifts open on the Pralongià. Winter brings skiing and the links with the rest of Alta Badia. San Cassiano is known all year for its fine mountain cuisine.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in San Cassiano?
The Pralongià plateau with its huts, the Armentara meadows below the Sasso di Santa Croce and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park that opens up behind the village. It is also known for its fine mountain cuisine.
Where is San Cassiano?
San Cassiano sits at 1,537 metres in a side branch of Alta Badia, between La Villa and the Valparola pass, at the foot of the Dolomites of Fanes. It is the natural gateway to the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park.
Why is San Cassiano known for its food?
Despite its small size, the village is home to top-level restaurants that combine mountain produce with Ladin tradition. It is one of the best-known food destinations in the Dolomites, valued by those looking for high-quality cuisine at altitude.
What are the prehistoric remains linked to San Cassiano?
In 1987 the innkeeper and alpine guide Willy Costamoling found, at 2,800 metres in the cave below the Cima delle Conturines, the remains of a cave bear that lived here tens of thousands of years ago. The species was named Ursus ladinicus and the village museum tells its story.
What is there to do in San Cassiano?
You can visit the Museum Ladin Ursus ladinicus dedicated to the cave bear, go up to the Pralongià on foot or by e-bike and walk towards the Armentara meadows and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park. In the evening the village is known for its fine cuisine.
What do you eat in San Cassiano?
Alongside the everyday Ladin dishes, such as canederli and cajincí (ricotta and spinach ravioli), the village is home to starred restaurants that combine mountain produce with fine cuisine. It is one of the best-known food destinations in the Dolomites.