Santa Maddalena: Church History and Mountain Views

Santa Maddalena offers several ways to enjoy a stay focused on mountain landscapes, nature and history. In the village, the Church of Santa Maddalena and the Centro visite Puez-Odle offer different insights: one explores architectural history, while the other focuses on the nature park and the rocks of the Dolomites. Seasonal winter activities and a circular trail with views of the Odle round out the experience.

Church of Santa Maddalena: Architectural History and Visiting

When it comes to the church, it is worth distinguishing between two dates. The first building was mentioned in 1394; the present-day church is a late Gothic building dating from 1492. Its interior features Baroque elements. Here, you can encounter different aspects of architectural history in one place: the early mention, the date of the present building and the design of the interior.

Specific access rules apply when travelling to the church. The access road is closed to cars and is for residents only. Visitors park at the “Putzen” car park, shortly after S. Maddalena, and walk about 30 minutes from there to the church. As this is practical access information, check the local notices before your visit.

Nature Park and the Dolomites at the Centro visite

The Centro visite Puez-Odle is located in the centre of S. Maddalena di Funes. Visitors can walk across an aerial photograph of the Puez-Odle Nature Park and view the park from above. The “Toccare le montagne” exhibition complements this view of the landscape: it presents typical types of rock and strata of the Dolomites. The visitor centre therefore brings together two different perspectives—the overview of the nature park and an exploration of its rocks and strata.

Whether you would rather spend your time taking in the landscape or exploring the exhibition’s geological topics, the Centro visite offers concrete ways to do both. The aerial photograph presents the nature park from a bird’s-eye perspective; the exhibition draws attention to its typical types of rock and strata. Both aspects are part of a visit to the centre, without needing to plan a hike to get there.

Winter Activities and Circular Trail

The Filler ski lift is located right in the centre of Santa Maddalena and offers views of the Odle. As seasonal winter infrastructure, its current operating status should be checked before your trip. The Snowfunpark is also a seasonal winter activity: children learn to slide there through play. Consider the two activities separately; no location at the ski lift is specified for the Snowfunpark. Check the latest operating information for both before planning your visit.

Another way to experience the area is a circular trail connecting S. Pietro and S. Maddalena. Along the way, it passes historic votive pillars and offers views of the Odle. The route thus connects two villages and combines the walk with historical landmarks and scenic views. As trail conditions should be checked seasonally, it is advisable to check the latest local conditions before setting out.

The different highlights offer distinct options for planning your trip: the church and votive pillars bring architectural and local history into focus, the Centro visite turns attention to the nature park and Dolomite rocks, while the lift and Snowfunpark are seasonal winter activities. If you are especially interested in these winter activities, check their operating status in advance; for the circular trail, trail conditions are the relevant seasonal consideration.

Discover more destinations: Weissenbach, Wipptal, St.Johann, Stulles, Weißlahnbad, Longega, Riomolino, Eisacktal

Return to the main travel overview: Bozen.