Instead of the church high on the rock of Monte Santa Caterina, the Senales Castle once stood, which gave its name to the valley
Image gallery: Monte Santa Caterina
High above the entrance to the Val Senales, a church can be seen on a steep rock. It is the church of Monte Santa Caterina, which - significantly - is consecrated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The Schnalsburg (Senales Castle) used to stand here, but you can only guess what it was like when you look up at the church tower: It stands on the remains of the castle tower. The village offers a magnificent view on the Senales and Adige Valleys, as far as Juval Castle near Castelbello, the famous summer residence of Reinhold Messner and home to one of his mountain museums.
After Monte Santa Caterina (Katharinaberg), the Senales Valley becomes a little wider again, and after a few kilometres a steep mountain road branches off which takes you into the Val di Fosse. This is a popular hiking and MTB destination that is easy to reach from Monte Santa Caterina. Historic farms and alpine huts that invite you to stop for a bite to eat make up the rustic valley in the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park. In between, the Val di Fosse Adventure Trail winds its way.
In summer, Monte Santa Caterina is a summer retreat in the true sense of the word, and the direct starting point for several hikes. They lead you to the Sottomonte Farms on the Monte Sole of Naturno, along the Via Monachorum to the Carthusian Monastery "Allerengelsberg" or to the Moar Hut, the oldest alpine hut in South Tyrol. In winter you can reach the ski lifts of the Alpin Arena Senales at the end of the valley in 20 minutes by car or in 30 minutes by public transport.
