The Ladin soul of Alta Badia
A cultural journey blending memory, creativity, and the Dolomite mountains through museums, craftsmanship, and land art.
Museum Ladin: two museums, one journey into Ladin culture
- In Val Badia, the Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor in San Martino in Badia recounts the history and customs of the Ladin people through legends, archaeology, and life in the Dolomite valleys.
- The Museum Ladin Ursus ladinicus in San Cassiano is dedicated to the cave bear that inhabited the area 40,000 years ago. It features an interactive exhibition that reveals the origins of the Dolomites.
Two museums, one unique experience connecting nature, history, and culture.
Craftsmanship in Val Badia
For centuries, alongside agriculture, craftsmanship has been a fundamental resource for the Ladin communities.
From being a daily necessity, it has evolved into an expression of creativity and passion, that has been passed down through generations.
Today, visitors can admire these handcrafted products in the valley’s shops, where items and decorations tell the authentic and beautiful story of local tradition.
Dolomites: Contemporary art between nature and tradition
In the heart of the Dolomites, contemporary art engages in dialogue with an extraordinary landscape.
Thanks to local institutions and cultural associations, the Ladin world is enriched each year by high-quality artistic initiatives.
- The Tru d’Artisc, an open-air gallery featuring works by artists from across the Dolomites, unfolds between La Villa and San Cassiano.
- In San Martino in Badia, the SMACH land art project is displayed biennially in harmony with nature.
In the valley renowned for wood sculpture, beyond Passo Gardena, prestigious international events such as Unika and the Gherdëina Biennale take place annually, attracting artists and visitors from around the world.
Events and traditions
Summer and winter events, celebrations, and festivities.
Ladin culture is celebrated season after season. Contemporary and traditional events, locations, food, lifestyle, and a world of fun await you throughout the year.
Further information
Museum Ladin, a castle and modern infrastructure to tell a long story.
Two places in Val Badia are dedicated to telling the Ladin history and culture. The Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor, in San Martino in Badia, opens a window onto the legendary Ladin world, accompanying guests on a rich tapestry of archaeology, geology, craftsmanship as well as exploring the development of tourism across the Ladin valleys in the Dolomites. The Museum Ladin Ursus Ladinicus, in San Cassiano, is dedicated to the Dolomites prehistoric bear. The interactive exhibition covers three floors and guides visitors across the story and habitat of this ‘cave-bear’ which lived 40,000 years ago, as well as including information about the main stages of the Dolomites’ birth.
Museums
Craftsmanship in Val Badia
An art living on the edge of traditions and passion.
Over the course of the centuries, crafts have represented an important means of living beside agriculture and farming for the Ladin valleys. Passed down from one generation to the next, these trades were born out of necessity. They slowly became a passion which can now be admired across various shops in the valley, where you can marvel and purchase strikingly beautiful products and decorations.
Dolomites
The Dolomites: where culture comes alive.
When it comes to describing the beauty of the Dolomites, nothing comes close to the real thing. Infinite beauty is the perfect stage for contemporary visual art. Thanks to the dedication of cultural institutes and associations, there are countless initiatives at the heart of the cultural Ladin offer. The ‘Tru d’artisc’ stretches between La Villa and San Cassiano: this outdoor gallery is home to works by different Dolomites’ artists. SMACH has left its mark across San Martino in Badia, a land art project which translates into a biennial outdoor exhibition. The Unika and Biennale Gherdëina take place just over Passo Gardena, the valley home to its famous wood carvers, attracting the attention of artists and guests from all over the world.
Only good news
The Dolomites at your fingertips.
Your holiday in the Dolomites.
Your holiday in the Dolomites.
We work with
Our partners
How to get there
+39 0471 836188
