Once Upon a Time in Vigo di Fassa, Italy

Vigo di Fassa 

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Vigo di Fassa is a fraction of 1 252 inhabitants of San Giovanni di Fassa in the province of Trento, located in Val di Fassa, on the right side of the Avisio.  
It is an important summer excursion centre in the Catinaccio massif and is part of the most beautiful villages in Italy. A modern cableway, directly from the town centre, reaches the Ciampedie basin in a few minutes, 2 000  m asl, panoramic point on the Val di Fassa, on the Catinaccio, the Vajolet Towers and the Larsen. Ciampedie is the starting point for summer excursions in the Catinaccio group, while in winter it is at the centre of the Catinaccio Ski Area. 

Santa Giuliana & The Austro-Hungarian cemetery

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Santa Giuliana is the patron saint of Val di Fassa. The Santa Giulia church is been for centuries the venerated shrine of the valley. It is right on the top of Vigo di Fassa centre. It is been build in the middle of the age XV in gothic style. The events of the patron saint of Fassa are depicted in a large fresco inside the church. The church of Santa Giuliana had the honor of being consecrated, on 23 July 1452, by one of the most illustrious names in the history of the region, the distinguished cardinal Nicolò Cusano, Bishop of Bressanone and a highly renowned philosopher.

The Austro-Hungarian cemetery is located upstream of Vigo di Fassa under the church of Santa Giuliana. It houses 663 Austro-Hungarian fallen from the 1915-1918 war. This is located a few kilometres from the line that marked the front during the First World War. At that time the town was a centre of primary importance as it was used as a marshalling site for the troops returning or who had to go to the Costabella front. The numerous casualties who registered on this stretch of the front imposed the construction of a military cemetery which was set up in 1916. Hundreds of soldiers were buried in this holy field, all marked with a wooden cross. The cemetery can be visited and is an important testimony of the great war on the Dolomite front.

How to get there

From the centre of Vigo take Via Piz and go up until you reach a crossroads with the sign indicating Santa Giuliana and the Austro-Hungarian cemetery. Arriving at this sign, there are two possibilities to get to the church. Either turn left as indicated by the sign and cut along the lawn climbing over the hill, or continue climbing along Via Piz until you reach another crossroads and at a point, you turn left crossing a road with a fence. In a first way, you first arrive at the Austro-Hungarian cemetery and then continue to climb the church by going up the lawn. In the second, however, you arrive directly above the church through a tiled road.

Ciampedie

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In the centre of Vigo there is the cable car which in just 3 minutes allows you to reach the Ciampedie viewpoint at an altitude of 2000m. Here you can enjoy a 360-degree view. On the Catinaccio and Sella groups, the Vajolet towers, the Creste di Costabella, the Latemar, the Marmolada, the Buffaure and the Monzoni. The Ciampedie basin is the starting point for walks and trekking of various difficulties.

As an alternative to the cable car, it is possible to walk up the Ciampedie by going up Strada De Piz from the town centre and then Strada De sent’Uliana which after a short stretch becomes a dirt road. At a certain point, you will find the signs indicating the climb to the Ciampedie refuge. The path immediately climbs into the woods with an average slope and various hairpin bends and lasts about 2 and a half hours, going calmly.

A very beautiful route that starts from the Ciampedie viewpoint is the one that leads to the Roda di Vael lasting about 2 hours. If you are curious to find out you can read the detailed description of the next post.

Path under the woods that connects the towns of Canazei and Moena

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Bike path of the Dolomites, Fiemme and Fassa. The cycle path runs along the Avisio stream crossing the green meadows of the valley floor and connecting all the towns of the Val di Fassa. To access it from Vigo, using the parish of San Giovanni Battista as a starting point, go down the De Sen Jan road. Cross the road and go down and go straight past the San Giovanni hotel which must remain on the left. Continue along the dirt road among the trees and descend until you reach the bridge over the Avisio, after which you will find yourself on the cycle path. At that point, taking the cycle path to the right you can go to Soraga and Moena, while on the left, in the direction of Canazei, crossing the villages that are in the middle (Pozza di Fassa, Pera, Mazzin, Campestrin, Fontanazzo, Campitello di Fassa).

Malga Aloch 

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The walk to the Malga Aloch is a rather relaxing and easy path immersed in the woods, even with children. It is a walk down the valley within everyone’s reach, characterized by a stretch called “The Fairy Path” consisting of several stages in which it is possible to read typical legends of the Val di Fassa accompanied by wooden sculptures depicting the protagonists of these fairy tales. Coming from the cycle path of the Valle di Fiemme and Fassa (in the direction of Vigo-Meida) you arrive at a crossroads on the right where you can see the wooden sign with the indications for Mash Aloch. There are two possibilities, the first is that of the fairy path, the second is the traditional road, a little longer but less steep. To take the fairy path take the left. The path continues in the woods with a constant slope overcoming two small bends until it reaches a large grassy area where the Mash Aloch is located. From the farm, you continue for a short flat stretch before tackling the descent that leads to the Malga Aloch restaurant. The return takes place along the same path or through a path that descends into the woods that can be taken, continuing in the same direction as the outward journey and leaving the restaurant behind.

QC Terme

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Peaceful and private wellness centres and resorts. If you want to have a real break from the outside worlds and forget the stresses of everyday life, immerse yourself in the comforting warmth of the spa waters and get ready to bask in the silence, interrupted only by the sounds of nature.

QC Terme offers a huge amount of high-quality facilities such as saunas, steam rooms, different kind of hydro pool and external sauna, hydro pool and jacuzzi. Also, there are so many different relax rooms where you can either meditate and sleep or read a book. 

Pane Brôt typical sweets – bakery in Pozza Di Fassa

If you are a lover of sweets, in Meida it is recommended to stop at this bakery in the recognizable centre of the yellow tent with the name of the bakery written on it. Here you can taste carrot cake, Sacher cake, Linzer cake, Strüdel and other local specialities.

 Address: 4, Piazza Deodat De Dolomieu, 38036 Sèn Jan di Fassa, TN, Italy

Are you ready to go to Vigo di Fassa and explore this beautiful small village with lots of different things to do?

I hope you will find our suggestions helpful and we will look forward to hearing your experience.

Have a good day x