Famous for the St. Proculus Church: Naturno, the sunny gateway to Merano and its environs
As the Val Venosta reaches its lowest point, the landscape around Naturns transitions into the mild climate of Merano and surroundings. Here, Juval Castle sits enthroned above the area, and here the Val Senales branches off towards the mighty glacier at the head of the valley where Oetzi was discovered.
The municipality stretches between vineyards and orchards, from the main village of Naturno to Stava, below Juval Castle, and then to Tablà and Cirlano on the other side of the Adige River. In Naturno, you'll walk in the footsteps of a long history: Silex flakes tell of the Middle Stone Age, and the renowned St. Proculus Church houses magnificent 14th-century paintings.
Above Naturno extends the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park from the Val Senales and the Val Passiria to the main chain of the Alps. It can be best discovered on the Merano High Route.
The numerous hiking opportunities this affords continue on the other side of the valley on the Monte Tramontana mountain. Down in the valley basin, the Val Venosta Cycle Path leads to the spa town of Merano and then on, as the Valle dell'Adige Cycle Path, to Bolzano. Leisurely walks are best enjoyed along the Ciardes and the Stava Waalwege paths, along the old irrigation channels. Families can explore the Hinzl Trail, a leisurely circular hike near Tablà.
Thanks to the subtropical climate, the well-known Riesling grape thrives at an altitude of 900 metres on the Sun Mountain, near Naturns. This grape is used to produce a delicious white wine which offers a pleasant way to end the day after a hike or excursion. Equally relaxing is a visit to the newly reopened Naturno Adventure Thermal Baths at the edge of the village.
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