Santa Cristina/St. Christina

The small town of Santa Cristina (1428) lies in the heart of the Ladin Val Gardena, a unique valley with its typical houses painted in liberty or Tyrolese style. Although it does not boast particularly rich treasures, the area offers numerous cultural attractions, among which is the interesting Gardena Castle. Apart from the merely cultural aspects, however, Santa Cristina is a much famous winter resort, owing to the nearby skiing facilities of Alpe di Siusi and Rasciesa-Seceda.
What is surprising of the Ladin area is certainly the deep-rooted sense of tradition: one only needs to take part in one of the lively cultural events to plunge into the customs and the atmosphere of the past.
Before leaving this characteristic Dolomitic corner, you should visit at least one of the numerous "Wood shops" (Botteghe del Legno): as a matter of fact, the area is full of sculptors, who manage to carve new harmonious forms out of wood.
The Crib prepared at the "Iman" sport centre is also worth a visit: it indeed reaches extraordinary dimensions (some of its statues are even 220 cm high).