The largest fruit-growing municipality in South Tyrol stretches from the apple orchards south of Merano to the high plateau of Foiana
Lana is located at the gates of Merano and the entrance to the Val d'Ultimo, and is called the Gateway to the South due to its pleasantly mild climate. Lana stretches along the southern corner of the Merano valley basin, with an exit to the north at Sinigo and one further south at Lana di Sotto. At both points there are sports facilities: at Sinigo the LanaArena with tennis courts, fitness studio and the new riding centre. The long driveway further south leads past the lido and the playground, football ground and skate park. Afterwards, the municipality, among the 10 largest in South Tyrol, seamlessly merges from Lana di Sotto into Lana di Mezzo and Lana di Sopra.
The slopes around Lana were already settled after the last ice age, but they really flourished just in the 19th century. The reason for this was the construction of the Merano-Bolzano railway line. The drainage of the then marshland created the charming village at the bottom of the valley, surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Today it has the character of a small town. Highlights such as the Schnatterpeck Altar, the Lana Golf Club, the Gaul Canyon and the Via Gries shopping mile are scattered between the individual parts of the village. The South Tyrolean Fruit Growing Museum, right on the Brandis Waalweg path, tells of fruit growing in Lana from the 19th century onwards: 1% of the apples in the entire European production comes from Lana, making it the largest fruit-growing municipality in South Tyrol.
After the centre, the road climbs up the hills: At the entrance to the Val d'Ultimo valley, the small mountain village of Pavicolo, a popular starting point for hikes, marks one end of the municipality, the other lies further southwest, towards the Passo Palade. It is Foiana with its Farm Life Museum and the special events like the Chestnut Days in October. There are also festivities in the valley: Events such as the LanaLive Festival, Lana in Bloom and the open air theatre take place in the warm months. In Advent, the Krampus procession and the Christmas Market follow.
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