Why You Need to Visit the Beautiful Santa Maddalena Italy
Santa Maddalena is a small village located in the Dolomites of Italy.
It’s both a village and a church.
And it’s a symbol of the Val di Funes.
“The what?” you’re asking.
I’ll get to that in just a minute.
In all honesty, I made a quick visit to this village from Castelrotto where I was staying.
It was a bit of a reconnaissance mission to see if it was as gorgeous as the images I’d seen.
The short answer is YES.
But I didn’t explore beyond the village and the church so I definitely need to go back as the entire area is truly stunning.
Then again, all of Alto Adige is — at least what I’ve seen.
Okay.
Let’s get started by placing Santa Maddalena on a map.
Where is Santa Maddalena?
This wee village of just 370 people is located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Northern Italy.
It’s specifically in that very favorite province of mine — the Alto Adige (also known as Südtirol in German).
And digging in even deeper it sits in the rear part of the Val di Funes.
So in the Trentino-Alto Adige region there are a lot of valleys because of the all the Dolomite mountains.
It’s just natural that there are valleys between the mountain ranges.
Often you’ll see that the towns in this region sit in a specific valley — Val.
Santa Maddalena is at one of those towns.
And it is located at the end of the very picturesque Val di Funes.
So let’s dive into why you should stop by this mountain village
6 Reasons to Visit Santa Maddalena
The Church
Given that the town is named for the church, you really can’t visit Santa Maddalena without taking a peek at the church.
It’s a lovely little church that sits in the valley, a bit up from town.
So there is a bit of walking to get up to it.
While this church does not have an onion-domed clock tower like those around the Alpe di Siusi, the interior is typical with bold colors and ornate decor.
But Santa Maddalena church is not overdone — at least not in my opinion.
I love the paintings and I love all the wood.
And there is a bit of a legend to go with this church that might entice you to visit even more.
The story goes that this is the place where the miraculous image of Santa Maddalena was washed up by the Fopal river — well it was a statue that washed up after a storm.
I guess the locals took it as a sign and built a church near that spot.
You never know what is 100% true when it comes to these legends and stories, but my guess is that there is a bit of truth to this one.
Whatever you believe, do take a look around this beautiful church.
The paintings by Ladin artist Johann M. Pescoller are worth the time for sure!
The Valley
The valley — the Val di Funes — is beautiful.
In summer it’s very green and dotted with colorful flowers.
And in winter it’s covered with snow.
It’s simply lovely.
There’s also another valley just a few kilometers away, Alpe di Zannes.
I admit, I’ve not been here but it looks gorgeous from the photos I’ve seen.
Not quite Alpe di Siusi gorgeous, but very pretty.
So you can explore a couple of valleys while in the Santa Maddalena area.
Yay!
The Mountains
The Odle Dolomite peaks are the mountains you see lording over the valley.
You know me, I love mountains — especially the Dolomites.
The Puez-Odle Dolomite Naturepark (Parco Naturale Puez Odle) is right next to Santa Maddalena so this village makes a good base for exploring this part of the park.
Can you imagine sunrise and sunset on these peaks?
I am betting it is breath taking.
The mountain views alone are worth making a stop in this little village.
I definitely fell in love with those Odle peaks.
Plus, I kind of like the name!
The Trails
There are some trails that wander from town up to the church and then further up above the valley a bit.
This is a great spot to get some photos of the church and the Odle peaks.
I just walked up part of the trail to where I could get some good images.
There are some trails that meander through the valley that look fairly easy and pleasant to walk on.
Then there are more trails that connect the valley to Parco Naturale Puez Odle.
So you start in town and walk into this Dolomite park.
Santa Maddalena is definitely a fabulous location to get out on some trails.
Easy Skiing
Santa Maddalena does have a ski lift for winter skiing and snowboarding.
It’’s right in town.
Now there isn’t a lot of terrain for skiing and snowboarding.
And it all rates very easy.
But it might be a fabulous place to learn to ski or snowboard or be a great spot for those of you are beginners and want an easy day of it.
Plus you’d have the magnificent views.
Speckfest
So I remember reading about this from another travel blog called Throne and Vine which has a lot of info on this area of Italy.
Speck is a ham that is unique to the area.
It’s a smoked ham that has “a little salt, a little smoke and a lot of fresh mountain air.”
Speck has been around probably since the 13th century.
What makes speck so special is that each farmer rubs his/her own unique blend of spices on the meat before it is smoked.
Sounds delicious right?
It’s better than prosciutto!
Seriously.
And the first weekend of every October, Speckfest happens on the slopes of the Val di Funes just below Santa Maddalena Church.
So why not arrange a trip to Santa Maddalena in time for this tasty festival?
You can eat speck, drink local wine or beer and experience the rich traditions of this incredible region.
I’m going to attend this someday soon.
Not only does it sound tasty but it sounds like a lot of fun.
And the location is spectacular!
Are you sold on making a visit to this charming village?
I truly wish I had explored a bit more.
But, because I love this part of Italy so much, I knew I’d be back.
So, next time, I will venture deeper and experience more of Santa Maddalena and its surroundings.
I mean, mountains, valleys, cute villages, beautiful churches and a festival all about food?
You can’t go wrong with that!
Please note that Wander Your Way does not recommend travel at this time due to the current global health situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, many destinations and attractions found on this website will not be operating although some places have opened.
Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC. I do plan to continue to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about travel. This way when we can all travel again, you’ll be ready to go! For now, stay home (or close to home) and stay safe!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I will earn a commission – at no extra cost to you — if you click on the link and purchase anything from these trusted companies. It helps Wander Your Way, a small business, stay in business. Thanks for your support!
Like it? Pin it!
Our family of 3 generations is planning a road trip through Austria and Italy in May 2024. One of the places we’re keen to visit is Santa Maddalena. However on trying to determine the location on Google Maps, we are getting two different spots, about 80 kilometres apart. One is showing as St. Magdalena in Val Di Funes, and the other as Santa Maddalena on the Italy Austria border. Would really appreciate clarity on which is correct. Thanks in advance!
I responded to this via email. Hopefully you’ll make it to this area without getting too lost!
Are there any options for getting to the spot to take the photos of the church other than by walking? I coould not ever walk that far. I am traveling alone and almost 72 years of age..
Hi Timothy. Maybe. I think there’s a road where you can get up above a little bit for the view. The footpath just takes you a bit higher.
I absolutely adore hiking in the Dolomites and this village has been on my radar. Your photos make me really want to hike in that valley now. I can’t wait until I can return to this beautiful part of Italy.
I love the Dolomites too, Karen. I can’t wait to go back to explore the Val di Funes more. It’s stunning!
What a charming little village. I have always been intrigued to visit this area. now even more so. Thanks for the tour!
The whole area really is breathtaking. Worthy of lots of time!
Oh my goodness! I’ve never heard of Santa Maddalena before but those mountain views are breath-taking! They’re so lush and green that they don’t even look real! I know it’s the wrong country but they definitely remind me of scenes from The Sound Of Music! What a magical place! The church also looks really pretty, I’d love to see it in person. Thanks for the great inspiration! Hopefully, I’ll be able to take a trip when we’re able to travel again!
Santa Maddalena and the Val di Funes are definitely a must. As I said in the post, I really wish I had planned for more time. But I know I’ll go back. I agree that it is beautiful!
This is such a pretty village to visit and the views from it are incredible.
While there’s not a lot to the village, the landscape really is stunning.