The signature hamlet of Val di Funes, with its little church beneath the spires of the Odle, one of the most photographed views in the Dolomites.
A short history
Santa Maddalena, Sankt Magdalena in German, is the highest and best known hamlet of Val di Funes, at 1,339 metres. It is a handful of farmsteads scattered across the meadows, with the parish church standing among the fields and the walls of the Odle closing the horizon behind it.
The valley stayed off the main Dolomite tourist routes for a long time. No big lifts, no ski carousel: here the landscape is one of mountain farms, farming and woods. This rural character, with the little church and the Odle behind it, is what made Santa Maddalena one of the most familiar images of South Tyrol.
Val di Funes is the home valley of mountaineer Reinhold Messner, born in Bressanone in 1944 and raised among these villages. It was his father Josef who took him as a child up his first peak, the Sass Rigais, which together with the Furchetta reaches 3,025 metres. The name Odle comes from Ladin and means needles, a nod to the sharp spires that close the valley. The group is part of the Puez-Odle Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites, and some of the finest trails at the foot of the walls start from Santa Maddalena.
The parish church has a bell tower recorded as early as 1394, while the late Gothic building we see today dates from the end of the fifteenth century. Legend says that during a violent storm a small statue of Saint Magdalene appeared on the spot where the church later rose. The little statue is still kept inside. At the end of July the village holds its festival with a deeply felt procession, and Santa Maddalena is home to the visitor centre of the Puez-Odle Nature Park, where the geological story of the Dolomites is told.
How to fit Santa Maddalena 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 Santa Maddalena viewpoint, the spot from which you take in the little church with the Odle behind it, among the most photographed panoramas in the Dolomites.
- The Adolf Munkel trail, which runs along the foot of the north walls of the Odle, inside the Puez-Odle Nature Park.
- The Glatsch hut and the Puez-Odle pastures, a resting point along the trails below the peaks.
How to get to Santa Maddalena
By car you leave the Brenner motorway (A22) at Chiusa-Val Gardena, then climb the Val di Funes road up to San Pietro and beyond, to Santa Maddalena at the head of the valley. The nearest railway station is Chiusa, on the Brenner line. Line buses run up the Val di Funes from Chiusa and from Bressanone.
When to go
From June to September the trails below the Odle are free of snow and it is the best season for walking. In autumn the larches turn gold and the meadows around the little church give the finest light for photos. In winter the village is quiet and lends itself to snowshoeing and walks on the snow.
Frequently asked questions
What to see in Santa Maddalena?
The viewpoint with the little church and the Odle behind it, the Adolf Munkel trail along the north walls and the Glatsch hut in the pastures of the Puez-Odle Nature Park. It is the starting point for the finest hikes in Val di Funes.
What to do in Santa Maddalena?
Walk the trails at the foot of the Odle, such as the Adolf Munkel trail along the north walls, climb to the viewpoint for photos of the little church and visit the Puez-Odle Nature Park visitor centre in the village. In summer you head up to the huts, in winter you go with snowshoes.
What do you eat in Santa Maddalena?
The dishes of the mountain farms and local products. Try the lamb of the spectacled sheep, the Villnosser Brillenschaf, the oldest sheep breed in South Tyrol and a Slow Food Presidium. In the huts and inns you find speck, mountain cheeses, dark bread and dumplings.
Why is Santa Maddalena famous?
Because its church, standing alone among the meadows with the spires of the Odle behind it, forms one of the most recognisable views in the Dolomites. The church is late Gothic and keeps a small statue tied to an old legend. The viewpoint above the village is the best place to capture it.
Where is Santa Maddalena?
Santa Maddalena is the highest hamlet of Val di Funes, at 1,339 metres, in South Tyrol. It lies at the head of the valley, at the foot of the Odle, beyond the main village of San Pietro.
When is the best time to visit Santa Maddalena?
Summer, from June to September, to walk below the Odle with the trails free of snow. Autumn brings the colours of the larches and the best light for photos of the little church. In winter the village is silent and suited to snowshoeing.