Sant’Antonio - Caldaro - South Tyrolean Wine Road - Oltradige

Ascend to the Mendola Pass with ease on the historic Mendola Funicular

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This winter panorama from Lake Caldaro shows the main village of Caldaro - Caldaro village - and, to the left, the hamlet of Sant’Antonio di Caldaro.
Foto: AP, © Peer
video : The Mendola Funicular in Caldaro
Welcome to Sant’Antonio di Caldaro, close to the Castelvecchio Forest - so named because there’s another village called Sant’Antonio near Fié.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The Church of St. Anthony rises majestically above the rooftops: Parts of the nave walls and the steeple date back to the Romanesque period.
Foto: AT, © Peer
In spring, when the fruit trees are in blossom, the view from the road to the recreation area of the Castelvecchio Forest is truly captivating.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The Giovanelli Residence is the most magnificent building in the village: Built in the Oltradige construction style, it combines the austere elements of Nordic Gothic with the more playful lines of the Italian Renaissance.
Foto: AT, © Peer
A monument to engineering, the Mendola Funicular, pictured here at its valley station, has been transporting visitors to the Mendola Pass, situated at an altitude of 1,363 metres, since 1903.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Even Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria used this funicular railway when he visited Caldaro on the Wine Road two years later, in 1905.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Once at the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of the South Tyrolean mountains, down into the Oltradige area, and across Lake Caldaro.
Foto: AT, © Peer
There’s much to explore on foot here: the Caldaro High Route, the sports grounds, the Castelvecchio Forest, and the Rio Rastenbach Gorge.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Within the Castelvecchio Forest, you’ll find the Caldaro Adventure Park, a high-rope course open from Easter until early November.
Foto: AT, © Peer
video : Hiking tip: Caldaro High Route

Close to Sant’Antonio di Caldaro:
offer 4 nights from 210 € per person

Sant'Antonio (St. Anton) stretches above the main village of Caldaro southwards towards the Castelvecchio Forest. The road, passing by old manor houses, leads further and further into the verdant landscape. One of these is the Giovanelli Residence near the Rio di Pozzo stream, surrounded by vineyards. The building, with its Oltradige style elements, is a particularly remarkable example of this construction style. In the Oltradige area, you'll often find entire village streets, in addition to individual buildings and manor houses, built in this distinctive regional style.

At the edge of the village, two popular destinations beckon. The first is the valley station of the Mendola Funicular. Built in 1903, it is the oldest funicular railway in Europe and one of the steepest. In just twelve minutes, with a touch of rollercoaster thrill, it climbs a 64% incline - ideal for anyone wishing to avoid the winding road up to the top. Once you arrive, the historic Mendola Pass, or Mendelpass, a former summer resort and now a beautiful hiking area, awaits.

It offers magnificent panoramic views of Lake Caldaro. Near the valley station, you'll find the village church of St. Anthony of Padua, presumably built upon the remains of a Romanesque church. Its nave houses impressive frescoes dating back to around 1380 AD.

Directly opposite the sports fields Sant'Antonio di Caldaro there's another attraction: the Caldaro Adventure Park, one of South Tyrol's largest high-rope courses. Those who prefer a more tranquil experience can relax in the Castelvecchio Forest by taking a walk to the Rio Rastenbach Gorge.

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