Tremendous sight in Steinhaus
Upon a first glance you may think that Steinhaus in South Tyrol is the kind of place “where the fox bids the hare good night” (a local proverb meaning that the place appears utterly deserted and possibly even boring), but … the first impression may well be entirely wrong!
Admittedly, it is highly unlikely that you will find any kind of exciting nightlife or great cultural events and no cinema in this place, but who would ever need all that in face of the most beautiful and natural backdrop. Wild and cragged rock faces, snow-covered peaks and farm yards built on steep meadows are that the spectacular view will make you put all hectic life out of your mind. The setting truly is a tremendous sight and of such breathtaking character that it is almost as vertiginous as any action movie could ever be!
Hiking and trekking
Steinhaus in South Tyrol is an all inviting place not only for hiking and trekking, but also to witness time-honoured traditions and customs in complete unison with nature. Crystal clear mountain air surrounds the whole of Steinhaus from whence you can embark on a tour towards the valley which will lead you to the ‘home of the tatting culture’: It really takes some meticulous handcraft to manufacture the ornate tips and laces which the locals do primarily in winter when a thick blanket of snow covers the fields and renders any outside work impossible. Going a bit further you will get to the miner’s pit (Knappenbergwerk) in Prettau. Until 1894 the mine took pride in producing the finest copper in South Tyrol, nowadays people go there to get rid of their asthma in the so-called ‘climate drift’.
Vetta d'Italia
There you will also find the famous museum ‘corn box’ where you can learn all you ever wanted to know about the development and techniques of copper clearing. And if you still keep on walking downwards en route for the valley, the path will lead you to Kasern, a place even smaller than Prettau where you will begin to feel like on a mountain pasture. If you still continue your tour, you will have to resort to hiking, because the actual path ends here, but a little further and you will get to the very small but equally beautiful pilgrim’s church Holy Spirit. That is also the starting place to the most northern point of Italy the ‘Vetta d’Italia’. Besides if there is any place on earth which is so full with peace and quiet that “the fox bids the hare goodnight”, it certainly is within the idyllic setting of Holy Spirit.