Racines/Ratschings

Racines is a municipality of very old settlements that develops in the valleys of Racines, Giovo and Ridanna. The period of greatest splendor goes back to the age of the mining industry at the end of the XVth century. Today the economy of the town is based on beekeeping , tourism and some artisan enterprises. The inhabitants are approximately 3,600 and the number has been unmodified for the last ten years thanks to the lack of emigration of young people. The connection between Merano and Vipiteno passed for " the ancient road of the Giovo ", a mule track that at the time was very important for the commerce between north and south.

In winter it is possible to ski in the Ridanna Valley, a paradise of cross country skiing, and in the famous ski area Racines-Giovo.

A curiosity: Racines was the village of Maria Fassnauer, famous as the "giant woman of Ridanna”. With her 2.17 meters of height she was at her times the tallest person in the world. She was born in the Staudner Masseria farmstead, the highest farmstead of Racines and she died in 1917 after an illness.