Charming resort in South Tyrol, located at the foot of Plan de Corones, surrounded by woods and fields, Valdaora (Olang in German) is a town in the province of Bolzano, composed of four districts, located on the border with the Natural Park Fanes-Senes and Braies, in a valley of Alta Val Pusteria (Hochpustertal).
During the Summer months, it is the ideal destination for lovers of hiking, trekking and horse riding or mountain biking along the several trails, while in Winter, ski fans cannot loose the opportunity of trying to the tracks of the ski area of Plan de Corones.
The town's name, documented since 980 A.D., has much more older origins and there is no harmony of views between local historians, some of which, according to an antique text attest that the name derives from the Celtic word "Aulaga" (a good Aulos), while others support the hypothesis that it has Latin origins, from "Aula" (court).
The Romans colonized the entire area, as evidenced by the findings of shrines and thermal baths, powered by the hot springs of the nearby Bad Bergfall.
Attractions:
- a Monolith and a Roman milestone;
- the Parish Church of Saints Peter and Agnes, in Baroque style, flanked by a tall Bell Tower, which is the symbol of Valdaora;
- the Church of St. Egidio, built in 1138, with an altarpiece by the artist Max Reichlich;
- the XV century Church of Santa Maria, originally built in late Gothic style and subsequently embellished with Baroque decorative elements;
- the monument to Peter Sigmayr, host of Valdoara and companion in arms of Andreas Hofer, who was shot by the French after a failed insurrection;
- the Chapel Baumgartner Stöckl;
- Lippa Sega, an ancient Venetian sawmill, active until 1958;
- the "plague" capital (a votive column);
- the limestone furnace, active until 1962;
- the thermal baths (Bad Bergfall), sulfur springs famous for their healing properties and already valued by the Romans;
- the Schorn trail.