Culture and customs of Val Gardena

LADIN – ONE OF THE THREE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN SOUTH TYROL

Besides German and Italian, Ladin is the third official language spoken in South Tyrol. It developed from the ancient Celtic, Rhaetian and Roman cultures and established itself in South Tyrol in the first century AD. Nowadays it is spoken by the people in Val Gardena and Val Badia, which make up 4% of the South Tyrolean population. At the schools in these two valleys Ladin is a compulsory school subject, too.

CUSTOMS & TRADITION
The South Tyrolean Val Gardena valley is rich in customs and traditions. There are the elaborate traditional costumes, for instance, which constitute a major feature of the Gardena culture. In fact, they belong to the most beautiful traditional attire in the entire Alpine region.
In the past, every community and social rank had their distinctive costume with further distinctive features for the various social occasions. At weddings, for example, the different designs of the costumes defined the role of the person wearing that particular design.

WOODCARVING – A GARDENA CRAFT WITH TRADITION
Woodcarving and sculpting have been part of the Gardena culture for centuries. The origins of woodcarving date back to around 1600. Initially an artistic field, it soon developed into branches of economic activity.
Both sacral and sacred items are carved in wood and have made Val Gardena well-known around the world. A visit to a woodcarving workshop is a must do on a trip to Val Gardena.

Easter Package

01.04.2012 - 09.04.2012

Easter in Val Gardena

Weekly or short stays

Ski Package Deal – limitless ski fun at Vitalpina Hotel Dosses

11/03/2012–25/03/2012 (7 days)


from EUR 845.- per person
or from EUR 950.- per person incl. Skipass