The tranquil summer retreat of Avigna, with its charming church festival, local delicacies, and live music
Image gallery: Avigna
Nestled between the sunny plateau of San Genesio and the entrance to the Val Sarentino lies the small, secluded village of Avigna (Afing), a hamlet within the expansive municipality of San Genesio Atesino. Far from any through-traffic, Avigna boasts a primary school and a kindergarten, idyllically situated on the outskirts by the St. Nicholas Church, a listed building.
The late Gothic church, with its lateral tower, and the adjacent kindergarten form a harmonious ensemble, complemented by a small playground in the neighbouring woods. Along with the farmsteads of Avigna di Dentro (Inner Avigna) and Schwarzeck, and the ruins of Avigna Castle perched above the Sarentino Gorge, the village extends across various altitudes.
Avia - the Lumberjack Trail, which starts in San Genesio village and meanders through the forest past several interactive stations, also stretches as far as the Sarentino Gorge. The name "Avia" is the Latin name for Avigna and means "remote area". In the past, it was indeed isolated, accessible only by a single path from San Genesio or Rafenstein Castle near Bolzano. Today, this mountain village can be reached via a well-maintained road and is connected to Jenesien by bus route 157.
Popular hiking destinations around Avigna include the Salto with its diverse trails, the Hauserberg, and the San Genesio Ridge. Alternatively, explore the area by mountain bike or on the back of a Haflinger horse. Restaurants and mountain huts offer welcoming stops along the way, serving regional specialities such as sweet "Kaiserschmarrn" pancakes, generously dusted with icing sugar.
