San Vigilio

The town of San Vigilio is located in the pretty valley lateral to Val Badia at 1201 mts above sea level, being a closed valley it is away from passing traffic.
And for this reason that the ancient Rhaetian took refuge in these valleys during the Roman invasion (ca. 33 AD - Marebbe comes from "Marubium") leaving their language: Ladino, which is part of our cultural heritage, safeguarded and protected from extinction.
In addition to the language, the Ladin population boasts countless traditions and customs passed down from generation to generation that seek to make known to the visitors throughout the year, especially during the festivities of Christmas and the summer period (Flower Festival, Festival of the town, a gathering of livestock). A portion of the population is passionately devoted to agriculture, which sets the frame of the modern tourist centre.
The Valley - called Rudo named after the "Rudo" stream that meanders merrily in the green landscape – to begin with a little narrow then welcomes the visitor into the large basin, where located is the idyllic village of San Vigilio, a typical mountain village, surrounded by bright green pastures, stretches of calm waters, sumptuous woods, conifers and picturesque villages called "viles".
The country, in Ladino "Al Plan" (which means "flat area"), with its 1500 inhabitants extends far and wide, giving the visitor the feeling of spaciousness, freedom and weightlessness. Characteristic is the urban structure of the mountain villages – such as in San Vigilio – the Parish church at the centre, around which the homes of the villagers are built, thus forming the old town which still consists of historic houses, restored and preserved over time.
The Parish Church is a gem of Baroque architecture, designed by the Ladin master Giuseppe Costa and inaugurated in 1792. Inside you can admire the frescoes of the famous painter Matthäus Günther.
The statue of Catarina Lanz is part of the historical context of the town. The young girl, born in "Al Plan de Mareo", has become a hero for fighting French troops of Napoleon in 1797, in a village near Bressanone, called Spines.