Magical things happen on mountain peaks. Sometimes they can give birth to gods.
The sublime, monumental and spectacular landscapes of Italy’s Dolomites have generated ancient myths and sacred narratives, as well as attracting modern climbers and a host of travelers today. Formed almost 225 million years ago, the extraordinarily vertiginous slopes are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to their intrinsic beauty: a variety of spectacular pinnacles, spires and towers with contrasting ledges, crags and plateaus.
If you want a base to fully enjoy the breathtaking scenery and feel the alpine fever, choose Ortisei, a South Tyrolean gem located in the heart of the Val Gardena, a drive of about four hours from Milan.
Ortisei has long been an international resort @Dolomites Val Gardena valgardena.it
Local prices can be steep, but there’s a selection of modern chalets that can help balance the budget.
Imbued with history and tradition, Ortisei – in German “St. Ulrich” and in the Ladin language “Urtijei” – is the capital of the valley. A sweet picture postcard village that impresses even the most discerning visitors, it is a vibrant place full of positive energy, soaring mountains and Jugendstil architecture.
This exquisite setting is just in front the awe-inspiring monolith Sassolungo, defined as “the king of the mountains” by the locals. “On August 13, 1869, Austrian mountaineer Paul Grohmann made the first ascent of Sassolungo. We are getting ready to celebrate the 150th anniversary,” says Beatrix Insam, director of Tourist Office Ortisei.
Ortisei, in Alto Adige’s Val Gardena under a blanket of snow @Dolomites Val Gardena valgardena.it
It is so good here, like eternal innocence. You put the worries behind, take in the beauty of nature and let it relax your mind. The sun gives the mountains a glorious greeting, their intriguing peaks kissing the sky.
Without question, this locale fostered musical genius: Disco god Giorgio Moroder was born in this fairytale village on a spring day in 1940, creating a break in the air.
He grew up, studied and even debuted here as musician. He was gaining experience for later in his extraordinary career that started in Berlin.
Moroder’s 2016 dj set: more then 10000 people attended, in the main square of Ortisei @Dolomites Val Gardena valgardena.it
“Giorgio was born in the Scurcià district, a sunny neighborhood of Ortisei, and attended the local art school,” says Insam. “As a boy, he used to play in local restaurants, hotels and piano bars, where he soon revealed his multiple talents by playing keyboards, piano, guitar and drums as well,” she adds.
As the father of disco, Giorgio Moroder helped to make Donna Summer into an icon. In 1977, their super hit “I Feel Love” changed the face of pop as the original electronic dance music. That dreamlike, futuristic and sensual polyphonic song with a beating heart was created using an Italian synthesizer. Even the US Library of Congress lists the composition as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.”
The Italian composer and the queen of disco dominated the music charts in the late ’70s and early ’80s, boasting an impressive 12 top 10 hits in a span of six years. The legendary musician, composer and producer also famed for the Oscar-winning soundtracks to Flashdance, Top Gun and Midnight Express, divides his time between Los Angeles and his native Ortisei.
A few months ago, he announced his first-ever live tour in Europe scheduled for next April and May.
Woodcarving is the centuries-old tradition of the valley @Dolomites Val Gardena valgardena.it
Moroder is part of the Ortisei community with its intoxicating sort of beauty. “Giorgio is in love with Ortisei. He visits very often with his wife, several times a year,” says Insam. “He appreciates the local cuisine starting with the classic canederli and loves our mountains, especially the Seceda and the Rascies.”
In 2016, he celebrated his 75th birthday in the main piazza by playing a wonderful DJ set. “There were 10,000 people. That was a magnificent night,” Insam recalls.
Ortisei is quite a cultural multitasker. It is Italian but the locals speak four languages: Italian, Ladin, German and English as a lingua franca. The Ladin community’s mother tongue descends from the Latin spoken by Roman legionaries who marched through the valley millennia ago. “The Ladin community is the largest: It represents 85 per cent of Ortisei residents, a total of 5000,” explains Insam. “We have TV, radio and a weekly newspaper in the Ladin language,” she says.
Ortisei is quite a cultural multitasker. It is Italian but the locals speak four languages: Italian, Ladin, German and English as a lingua franca @Dolomites Val Gardena valgardena.it
The Gardena Valley is among Europe’s top-three ski regions. And Ortisei has long been an international resort. “The first tourists, in 1885, were British. Their goals in climbing centered around our incredible peaks,” Insam says proudly. But it was the 1970 World Ski Championships in Val Gardena that made the valley an especially premier destination.
The village is filled with delightfully quaint historic buildings: a soaring spire belonging to the St. Antonio Church on the main piazza, a fascinating local heritage museum, the Gherdeina, the St. Giacomo Church dating back to 1100s and the Baroque parish church dedicated to the patron saint Ulricwh, hich contains a great number of wood sculptures carved by local artists.
Woodcarving is the centuries-old tradition of the valley. “In the old times, our artisans went to Paris and London by foot to sell small sculptures and especially wooden dolls known as Dutch Dolls in the British market because they were sold through Holland,” says Insam. “But surprisingly, we found some old Gardenese dolls in the US as well,” she says.
Magical things happen on mountain peaks.
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