The main centre of Val di Funes, seat of the municipality, base for reaching the Odle and the little church of San Giovanni in Ranui.
A short history
San Pietro, Sankt Peter in German, is the main village of the municipality of Funes, at 1,141 metres, lower down than Santa Maddalena. This is where you find the town hall, the schools and the valley's main services, among the farmsteads and the cultivated meadows.
Val di Funes has kept a farming, out-of-the-way character. The spoken language is German, the economy is tied to livestock, to the farmsteads and to a slow tourism made of hikes rather than big lifts. San Pietro is the point where the valley gathers before climbing towards the Odle.
Just beyond the village, in the hamlet of Ranui, stands the little church of San Giovanni, with its onion dome and the Odle behind it. It is a Baroque church built in 1744 by the von Jenner family and dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk. The bell tower ends in an onion shape, clad in copper and crowned by a star. Together with the Santa Maddalena viewpoint it is one of the valley's signature images and one of the most photographed subjects in South Tyrol.
Val di Funes takes its name from the German Villnoss and, by upbringing, gave the world mountaineer Reinhold Messner, who climbed the first peaks of the Odle here as a boy. The valley is also known for the spectacled sheep, the Villnosser Brillenschaf, recognisable by the black patches around its eyes: it is the oldest sheep breed in South Tyrol and has become a Slow Food Presidium. From San Pietro the trails set off towards the Puez-Odle Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites.
How to fit San Pietro (Funes) 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 little church of San Giovanni in Ranui, the small Baroque church at the foot of the Odle, just above the village.
- The Adolf Munkel trail, the route along the north walls of the Odle in the Puez-Odle Nature Park.
- The Glatsch hut and the Puez-Odle pastures, among the high meadows of the valley.
How to get to San Pietro (Funes)
By car you leave the A22 Brenner motorway at Chiusa-Val Gardena and climb the Val di Funes road up to San Pietro, the main village of the valley. The nearest railway station is Chiusa, on the Brenner line. Line buses run up the valley from Chiusa and from Bressanone and stop at San Pietro.
When to go
Summer, between June and September, is the best time for hikes towards the Odle and for the little church of Ranui. In autumn the woods change colour and the valley empties of visitors. In winter San Pietro stays a quiet starting point for walks and snowshoeing.
Frequently asked questions
What to see in San Pietro di Funes?
The little church of San Giovanni in Ranui at the foot of the Odle, the Adolf Munkel trail along the north walls and the pastures of the Puez-Odle Nature Park. San Pietro is the base for exploring the whole valley.
What to do in San Pietro di Funes?
Walk up to the little church of San Giovanni in Ranui, follow the Adolf Munkel trail below the north walls of the Odle and climb to the huts of the Puez-Odle Nature Park. It is a valley to take slowly, among farmsteads, hikes and local products.
What do you eat in San Pietro di Funes?
The cooking is that of the South Tyrolean farms. The valley's speciality is the lamb of the spectacled sheep, the Villnosser Brillenschaf, a Slow Food Presidium. In the farms and inns you find speck, hut cheeses, dark bread, dumplings and strudel.
Why is San Pietro di Funes famous?
Because it is the gateway to Val di Funes and the base for reaching the little church of San Giovanni in Ranui, a Baroque church from 1744 with its onion-domed bell tower and the Odle behind it, one of the signature images of South Tyrol. The valley is also the childhood land of Reinhold Messner.
Where is San Pietro di Funes?
San Pietro is the main village of the municipality of Funes, at 1,141 metres in South Tyrol. It lies lower down than Santa Maddalena, along the road that climbs the valley towards the Odle.
How do you get to San Pietro di Funes?
By car you leave the A22 at Chiusa-Val Gardena and climb Val di Funes up to the village. The nearest railway station is Chiusa, on the Brenner line, connected by line buses that run up the valley. From San Pietro you then continue towards Santa Maddalena.
When is it best to visit San Pietro di Funes?
In summer, from June to September, for hikes towards the Odle and the church of Ranui with the trails free of snow. In autumn the woods turn colour and the valley is quieter. In winter the village is a silent base for walks and snowshoeing.