Sèn Jan in Val di Fassa

How to get to Sén Jan di Fassa

Reaching Sén Jan di Fassa by car is not difficult: from the A22 Brenner motorway, you can exit at Egna-Ora (exit 75). From there, the Dolomites road, which passes through Fontanefredde and Nuova Redagno, leads to Val di Fiemme. Before entering Predazzo, follow the signs for Val di Fassa. Always by car, an alternative is to exit at Bolzano Nord (exit 77) and take the spectacular road that leads to Nova Levante and the Costalunga/Carezza pass (at an altitude of 1700 m!) And then descend to emerge directly at Vigo di Fassa. Even the bus, for those closest to you, can be a solution, through the SAD and Trentino Trasporti lines. You can also arrive by train from the Ora-Auer station in Val d’Adige, Bolzano, or Trento. For those who depart from much further afield, the closest airports to the Val di Fassa are Bolzano-Dolomiti, which is 40 km from Sén Jan, the Antonio Canova airport of Treviso at 160 km, or the Valerio airport Catullo of Verona at 180 km.

What to see in Sén Jan di Fassa

The historical part of Sén Jan di Fassa reserves many architectural beauties for its visitors: glimpses of picturesque alleys, historic buildings, and ancient houses. In particular, some of the most beautiful and ancient houses in the area are visible on the road that leads from Via Meida to the Alloch Alm. The barns throughout the area also deserve a careful look: the Fienile dei Cuori and the one located in front of the church of Pozza are structures of some value in the context of popular architecture. But what to see in particular in the area of Sén Jan di Fassa? Here are some examples of the major tourist attractions that blend art, culture, and tradition of the Fassa area.

The Church of San Giovanni

The ancient Church of San Giovanni, which dates back to the 15th century, is located in the small hamlet of Sén Spell Jan and is easily accessible from state road 48. This religious building, which is one of the oldest in the whole valley, houses inside some frescoes dating back to the 16th century. The structure is characterized by a Gothic style that can be easily identified even from afar with the high spire bell tower which houses six bells. Four of these date back to 1922, one to 1967, but the bell that has the greatest historical relevance is the largest. It was built in 1549, by master Ludovico Simonato who melted this bell for a weight of 2565 kg, still fully functional today after almost 500 years.

The hermitage of Santa Giuliana

On a small hill, in a more secluded place than the town, stands the hermitage of Santa Giuliana always in a strictly Gothic style. This site is considered the oldest religious center in the entire Val di Fassa, because, although the church that can be seen today dates back to the fifteenth century, in reality, since 1237, the existence of a previous church has been documented here, which was completely rebuilt two centuries later. Inside the Hermitage of Santa Giuliana (in Ladin language Sént Ujan), the main altar, built in 1517 by the artist Giorgio Artz of Bolzano, made of carefully carved wood, which has come down to us well preserved, deserves special attention. The frescoes that can be seen in the apse are of particular artistic importance, also from the second half of the fifteenth century. Outside the church, just next to it, there is a small chapel from the same period dedicated to San Maurizio. Of the four bells in the bell tower, the oldest is dated 1496 and is also the oldest in the entire Val di Fassa. These unique and precious instruments are played only on particular occasions.

The Austro-Hungarian cemetery

Just below the Church of Santa Giuliana, you can visit the Austro-Hungarian War Cemetery which houses the corpses of over 600 Austrian soldiers who died during the First World War on the mountains surrounding the Val di Fassa. The place is surrounded by fir and larch trees, inserted in a very peaceful dimension that recalls recollection. The names of the fallen are written on simple wooden crosses in memory of the atrocity of all conflicts. At the center of the cemetery, there is a small path from which you can reach a votive chapel located at an elevated point.

The Castle of San Nicolò

On a hill that rises at the mouth of the small Val San Nicolò, at the point where the Avisio river receives the waters of the Rio San Nicolò, stands the Mas, a sort of austere castle that survived the demolitions and reconstructions of the various buildings historians of the area. It is characterized by a tower that watches over the valley below and which was once in visual connection with the other ancient tower belonging to the Corte di Fassa, located in Vigo, which was the main seat of political and military power in the valley. During the Middle Ages, because of their elevated positions and favored by a wide view, the two castles could control the entire valley.

Ciampedie

In the center of the hamlet of Vigo there is the starting point of a modern cableway that connects the valley to the Ciampedie basin in a few minutes, located at an altitude of 2000 meters. Here tourists can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the entire Val di Fassa, the imposing Catinaccio, the pointed Vajolet towers and the pointed peaks of the Larsech. The area is served by refuges and huts and serves as a starting point for many routes leading to the Passo delle Cigolade or the Catinaccio. These are walks that can only be done in the summer, because during the winter the area is covered by snow and the whole Ciampedie area becomes the center of the Catinaccio ski area.