In Val Gardena, among the majestic peaks of the Dolomites and the fragrant pine forests, art is not only found in museums or galleries, but walks with you, step by step. It is alive, carved in wood, told by the skilled hand of those who, for generations, transform a trunk into emotion. This is the magic you breathe along the Troi UNIKA, the Art and Nature Trail that winds its way on Monte Pana, above Santa Cristina.
The Troi UNIKA is a trail that combines the pleasure of hiking with the discovery of one of the most deeply rooted and fascinating traditions of Val Gardena: the artistic carving of wood. Along the path, immersed in meadows full of flowers, larch trees, and views of the Sassolungo, you encounter works sculpted by Gardenese artists, members of the UNIKA collective. Each sculpture tells a story, an emotion, a fragment of Ladin culture: female figures suspended between dream and matter, symbols of the mountain, fantastic animals, faces marked by time.
Walking here is like stepping into an open-air museum, with the fresh breeze on your face, the scent of flowers in the meadows, and the sound of footsteps on the grass. The art is not distant; it is close, accessible, tangible. It invites you to stop, observe and feel.
In Val Gardena, wood carving is not just a craft; it’s a heritage, a language passed down from father to son. For centuries, the wood from the valley’s trees has been transformed into sacred figures, toys, and works of art. The master sculptors of Gardena are known worldwide for the precision and expressiveness of their work, but it is by walking the Troi UNIKA that one truly understands where this inspiration comes from: from the authentic beauty of nature.
The trail is suitable for everyone: it’s easy, well-marked, and can be completed in just over an hour. Yet, each step offers an encounter, a reflection, a new perspective on the mountain.
The Troi UNIKA is an experience to be savored slowly. There’s no need to rush; in fact, the beauty of this path lies in stopping. Sitting on a carved wooden bench, getting close to a statue, imagining the hands that created it.
