La Costa, the highest hamlet of Laives, offers sunshine and traditional Toerggelen in autumn
Image gallery: La Costa
From Pineta di Laives, the road climbs to the smallest and highest hamlet of Laives: La Costa (Seit). While the town and its other districts lie in the Adige Valley at around 250 metres above sea level, La Costa sits at 750 to 1,100 metres. The mountain farmsteads nestle on the sunny slopes of the Monte Pozza, the highest point of the Colle, Bolzano's local mountain.
The heart of La Costa is the community centre, which once housed the small village school, and the little church dedicated to Blessed Henry of Bolzano. From there, farms are scattered across the meadows, connected by a mountain road popular with mountain bikers. For example, you can finish the bike tour to Colle and La Costa on Bolzano's and Laives' eastern slopes.
The well-known Laives High Route begins in the Vallarsa valley and leads over the Monte Largo up to La Costa and into the Bolzano district of Oltrisarco. From La Costa, there are also hikes to the Rocce Rosse viewpoint, the Schneiderwiesen meadows, and the mountain village of Colle.
The view sweeps from the Bolzano basin to Merano and Salorno, and across the Mendola Ridge to the Brenta Dolomites and Mt. Ortles. Thanks to the sunny location, chestnut trees thrive here, their fruit served as roasted chestnuts with butter during the traditional Toerggele evenings in autumn.
