The idyllic little St. Michael Church on the way to the Passo Pinei shows you different stylistic eras and interesting frescoes
Image gallery: San Michele di Castelrotto
From the main village of Castelrotto, a mountain road leads you up to the Pinei Saddle, the crossing into the Val Gardena and a popular route for racing cyclists and mountain bikers. Along this road you will find the village of San Michele with its St. Michael the Archangel Church, a cultural jewel in the heart of the Sciliar area. This patron saint is celebrated every year on St. Michael's Day, September 29: In the past, this date marked the beginning of the cold season, when autumn moved into the country, harvest thanksgiving was celebrated and work in the fields rested.
Today, the mountain village of San Michele (St. Michael) at an altitude of well more than 1,000 m also forms the border between the predominantly German-populated Sciliar region and the Ladin-speaking Val Gardena. It also has a Ladin name: San Michiel. Three other districts of Castelrotto lie on the slopes above the Val Gardena and are thus usually counted as part of Ortisei.
A variety of hikes to the Alpe di Siusi and Mt. Bullaccia to the famous Witches' Benches are recommended from here. It is said that witch dances and magic cults took place at these rock formations until the Middle Ages. Also recommended is the hike on the Geotrail Bulla, a journey in the footsteps of the earth's history between the Val Gardena and the Pinei Pass. In winter, the lifts to the Alpe di Siusi are only 7 km away and can also be easily reached by public transport.
