Graveccio Castle: Discover this manor, a historic gem of San Valentino above Chiusa
Image gallery: San Valentino di Villandro
South of Villandro lies San Maurizio, and to the north, San Valentino (St. Valentin). Deep ravines, carved by village streams, separate the two villages. San Valentino owes its name to Saint Valentine, to whom the church is dedicated. You'll also find this place name elsewhere in South Tyrol, for example, near Castelrotto, in the Val Venosta, and in the Dolomites valley of Funes.
From Chiusa, a few hairpin bends lead up to the mountain village above the Isarco Valley. Along the road, you'll see the single-nave St. Valentine's Church with its pointed spire on the side. First mentioned in 1303 AD, it burnt down a century later. During its reconstruction, it was given the Gothic stellar vault that can still be admired today.
The most impressive building here, however, is Graveccio Castle. Probably built around 1150, it was once the seat of the Lords of Villandro and is visible from the valley below. Today, you can enjoy a farm holiday at the manor. Below it runs the South Tyrolean Chestnut Trail, this section being the third stage. It's a particularly special experience in autumn. Whether tackled in day-long stages or shorter sections, it combines exercise with pleasure.
In the Villandro taverns, hearty dishes such as the traditional platter of cured meats and sausages known as "Schlachtplatte", sweet Krapfen, and homemade Schlutzkrapfen - half-moon shaped pasta filled with ricotta and spinach - await you during the autumn festivities known as Toerggelen.
