In and around Val Senales, there's plenty to discover. In addition to the numerous stunning mountain lakes and Lake Vernago, there are also many cultural highlights awaiting you. Whether it's the pilgrimage church of Madonna di Senales, the former Carthusian monastery complex, the archeoParc, Castle Juval, the Naturno thermal baths, or the spa town of Merano (only 40 minutes by car away).
For centuries, Val Senales has been an important transit point for north-south routes across the Alps, with even pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago passing through. In 1304, a small statue of Mother Mary with the infant Jesus was found where the church stands today. The church originated from a simple Gothic chapel, later renovated in Baroque style. To this day, the Marian statue remains in the pilgrimage church; it’s now stored in the monstrance.
The archeoParc is a unique destination for families (within walking distance from the hotel). At this archaeological open-air museum, everything revolves around Ötzi, the Iceman. Visitors learn about how and where Ötzi was discovered in 1991, as well as how he and his contemporaries lived 5,300 years ago.
Castle Juval is situated on a hill at the entrance to Val Senales, at a prehistoric cult site. The castle was built around 1278 and now serves as the summer residence of the mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner and as the 'Messner Mountain Museum.' The facility is dedicated to the myth of the mountain: it houses Messner's extensive adventure library and Tibetica collection, a picture gallery depicting the sacred mountains of the world, a mask collection from five continents, his expedition cellar, the unique exhibition on Gesar Ling, the tantra room, and Renaissance frescoes.
The thermal baths in Naturno are a meeting point for young and old alike. Water enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy themselves in the warm indoor pool with bubble loungers, massage loungers, brine pool, and a 36°C warm whirlpool. Popular attractions include the 51-metre-long water slide, the current channel, and the 550m² wellness area. In summer, the offerings expand: water fountains, a large sunbathing lawn, a toddler pool, a large sports pool, a volleyball court, and a kiosk await you.
Smart Hotel Firn is only about a 40-minute drive from Merano. If you're looking for a change from lofty heights, forests, and peaks, visit the spa town with its famous shops under the arcades, thermal baths, and promenades. The spa town owes its pleasantly mild climate with an average of 300 sunny days per year and the Mediterranean vegetation with palms and cypresses to its protected location at the foot of high mountains in the northernmost region of Italy.
