_
_
_
Val di Funes, aka Villnöss, is a picturesque alpine valley located in the Dolomites, in the province of South Tyrol, and is a must while visiting the area. This valley is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, charming mountain villages, and majestic peaks (Geisler/Odle peaks).
The best time is in the shoulder season (April-May and September-October), when the weather is still warm enough and isn't as touristy.
Arrive for sunrise or sunset. We had the most magical sunset here.
The easiest way to get there is by car but you could also take a bus from Bolzano and Ortisei.
Parking shouldn't be an issue, there are many places to park.
There isn't much in Val di Funes besides nature so bring food. If you're looking for a recommendation on where to eat, we ate dinner at Hotel Fines restaurant and really enjoyed it.
Flying drones is not allowed, but of course people do it anyway, I hope you respect the nature and the rules of the place.
Hikes:
If you love to hike, there are a few great trails in Val di Funes. The most popular ones are the Adolf Munkel Trail and the Alpe di Funes, Herrensteigrunde which is a circular hike, and Ridge Trail. Sadly, we didn't have the time to do any of these hikes.
Santa Maddalena:
A small village in the Funes Valley that's located 15 minutes away from San Giovanni church. It’s a great place to start the excellent Panoramaweg and Sunnseitenweg trails that offer gorgeous views of the Santa Maddelena Church.
Chiesetta di San Giovanni Church in Ranui:
Also known as the Church of St. Johann, this place is Instagram-famous for a good reason. It's a beautiful church surrounded by green meadows, lush trees, and Odle peaks behind it. Since this place blew up on social media people were trampling the meadow in front of the church, a field that’s someone’s private property. Therefore the owners enclosed the surrounding meadows and church with a large fence.
1. If you'd like to enter the church or get close you'll need to head to the road to the Ranuihof Farm. There you'll find a gated entry point, where you have to purchase a ticket in order to enter. It costs 4 Euro per person. Bring small cash because the machine only accepts small cash and won't return the change. I recommend paying 4 euros as the chapel is very impressive and there is a series of paintings that tell the story of St. John.
We saw people climbing over the fence without shame. Please respect this place, the people, and nature.
2. There is a viewing platform along St. Johann/San Giovanni road, free of charge where you can take a photo. If you're looking on google maps it's called Bester Blick auf die Kirche.
3. If you follow the Panorama road from Santa Maddalena you’ll also encounter a stunning viewpoint over the San Giovanni church!