The Predoi Show Mine and the Holy Spirit Church at the head of the valley characterise the northernmost municipality in the country
The rearmost part of the Valle Aurina is Predoi, the smallest municipality in South Tyrol after Ponte Gardena and the northernmost in all of Italy. The area looks back on a lively mining history: Already around 1400, copper was mined here at the Rio Rosso, literally the Red River. This continued for several centuries until the 1970s, when the Predoi Mine stopped its active operations. In the nearby Cadipietra, the administrative buildings were constructed, which still house museums and municipal offices as venerable residences today.
In the following years, mining was replaced by mask carving and lace making. The former mine, on the other hand, has become an extremely popular show mine which belongs to the South Tyrol Museum of Mining and is also interesting for children. Another gallery houses the Predoi Climate Gallery, which offers an allergen- and pollen-free microclimate with very clean air. Many historically important and strategic border crossings are located in the municipality, including the Forcella del Picco, the Forcella di Campo and the Passo del Cane: Today, the former smugglers' paths and pass crossings are mainly used by hikers and are bundled as border paths and health trails.
They show you the beauty of the Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Nature Park. You can find information about them at the Casere Information Point, exactly where the Valle Aurina road ends and the paths into the mountain world start. Not far away is the picturesquely situated Holy Spirit Pilgrimage Church, around which various legends entwine. It is said to free even those from their sins who manage to squeeze through the split rock. Cows graze all around, streams rush down from the mountains into the valley. In winter, the snow-covered Predoi becomes the starting point for ski tours and winter hikes. Stress and everyday life, indeed the whole world, seem far away.
