Val Gardena

Val
Gardena

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Location in Italy

Val Gardena(Italian:[ˌvalɡarˈdeːna,ˌvalɡarˈdɛːna];German:Gröden[ˈɡʁøːdn̩];Ladin:Gherdëina[ɡʀ̩ˈdɜi̯na]^ⓘ) is a valley in theDolomitesofSouth Tyrol,Northern Italy.It is best known as a touristskiing,rock climbing,andwoodcarvingarea.

View of the northern side of the valley

Geography

The Stevia range above Val Gardena

The valley's main river is theDerjon,a tributary of theEisackriver. The mountains that surround the valley are formed bydolomite rocks,which confer on them a characteristic appearance. Most of the steep slopes are covered by pine woods. The favoured cultivations are barley, rye, potatoes, flax, buckwheat. The three municipalities in Val Gardena areUrtijëi,Sëlva,andSanta Cristina;they were served by theVal Gardena Railwayfrom 1916 until 1960.

History

The first document about Val Gardena dates back to 993/94–1005: in a tradition note of thediocese of Freising,the Bavarian Count Otto from the Rapoton family transferred, among other things, "ad Gredine forestum" (forest area in Val Gardena) to Bishop Gottschalk of Freising.

Culture

Accidents like the one depicted were frequent among the farmers collecting timber in the woods during harsh winters in Val Gardena.

Val Gardena is one of five valleys with a majority ofLadinspeakers (two of these valleys are inSouth Tyrol). The form of the Ladin language spoken in this valley is calledGardeneseinItalian,GrödnerischinGermanandGherdëinainLadin.

Woodcarving

Woodcarving in Val Gardena. Around 1900 when carving of statues ofCatholic saintswas at its bloom.

The woodcarving industry has flourished in Val Gardena since the 17th century.Since the 19th century,statuesandaltarscarved in the area have been shipped toCatholic Churchesthroughout the world. In the 18th century, besides religious statuettes, the production of woodcarved figurines of genre art was widespread in the valley. Among them statuettes ofbeggarsgenerally in pairs (female and male), four seasons, watchstands were very popular. In the 19th and 20th century, carving of wooden toyswas such a widespread occupation in all Gardenese families thatAmelia Edwardscalled Urtijëi the "capital of Toyland".One of the valley's best-known products is thepeg wooden dollwhich was popular all over Europe and America in the 19th century.

In one of her many tripsMargaret Warner Morleywent to Europe to Val Gardena where she was inspired to write the novelDonkey John of the toy valley.

TheParish Church of Urtijëidisplays a rich collection of statues carved by local artists in the last two centuries. TheMuseum Gherdëinain Urtijëi owns a rich collection of historical wooden toys,and woodcarved statues andfigurines.

Sports

Carved gallant genre scene inSwiss Pinewith figurines from Val Gardena 18th century.

Skiing

The valley hosted theFIS Alpine World Ski Championshipsin1970.

Val Gardena is home to theSaslong Classic,a men'sWorld Cupdownhillrace that has been held almost every year since1969.Since2002(and in1983), the downhill has been paired with aSuper-Grace, and from 1979 to 1982 acombinedevent was held.The Saslong course is considered one of the five "classic" men's downhill races, along withGarmisch-Partenkirchen's Kandahar (GER),Kitzbühel'sHahnenkamm(AUT),Wengen'sLauberhorn(SUI), andVal-d'Isère's Criterium (FRA).It is well known for the "Camel Humps" (or "Bumps" ), a series of three small jumps which racers must negotiate in quick succession. Two men have won the Saslong title four times in a career: AustrianFranz Klammer(1975, two races in 1976, and 1982) and Italy'sKristian Ghedina(1996, 1998, 1999, and 2001). If Super-G wins are also included, two other men have matched that feat:Peter Müllerof Switzerland and AustrianMichael Walchhofer.

A women'sslalomand parallel slalom were also held in1975.

Val Gardena is part of theSella Rondaalpineski touringcircuit.

Other sports

TheGardena Spring Trophyis an annual international figure skating competition held every spring in the Valley.

Val Gardena has aSerie Aice hockeyteam, theHockey Club Gardena.

Notable residents

• Carolina Kostner,figure skater
• Isolde Kostner,ski-champion
• Giorgio Moroder,record producer, songwriter, performer and DJ
• Josef Moroder-Lusenberg,painter

See also

• Woodcarved beggars

General sources

• Amelia Edwards.Untrodden peaks and unfrequented valleys. A midsummer ramble in the Dolomites.Longman's, Green and Co. London 1873.
• Margaret Warner Morley.Donkey John of the toy valley.Chicago A. C. McClurg & Co. 1909.

External links

• "Val Gardena Mobil Card"(in Italian).
• "LA VAL GARDENA"(in Italian).
• Val Gardena travel guide,on bestmountain.eu