Legend: The Sacred Three Fountains of Trafoi

In Trafoi all'Ortles in the Val Venosta valley, on the way to the Stelvio Pass, a chapel with numerous outbuildings is located amidst the gorgeous alpine world. This is the Church of the Sacred Three Fountains - "Hl. Drei Brunnen" in German, "Tre Fontane Sacre" in Italian. The legend says, that in the 13th century a shepherd named Moritz saw three rivulets coming out of the rocks. Each of them carried a cross: Two of them Moritz could catch, the third one, however, was washed away.

Nowadays, one of the crosses can be admired in the Stelvio Parish Church, the other one in the St. John Church in Tubre in the Val Monastero valley. Already in the 15th century, this idyllic spot became a Marian pilgrimage site and a little chapel was built. The springs are attributed to have healing power, also the numerous wooden prostheses in the little church tell about it. In the well house, the legend is shown in detail - three statues of the Virgin Mother, Jesus and Saint John can be found there. Moreover there is a fountain with three rivulets in front of the church from where you can enjoy an impressive view on "King Ortles" and other surrounding peaks.

Every year, on Whit Monday, the statue of the Virgin Mary is carried from the Trafoi Parish Church to the Church of the Sacred Three Fountains in a procession. On the last Sunday in September, the statue is brought back. It is presumed, that a pagan shrine was located here in ancient times...