Badia
Welcome to Badia
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about Badia, a beautiful Italian town located in the autonomous province of Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige. Badia is a scattered municipality with 3481 inhabitants and is composed of four hamlets: Pedraces, San Leonardo, La Villa and San Cassiano. Val Badia, where Badia is located, is one of the valleys where it is still possible to hear the Ladin language, a local romance language.
The physical geography of Badia
Badia is located in the Dolomites, close to the border with the Veneto region. The municipality is part of the Pusteria Valley community and can boast some of the most imposing mountains in the area, incorporated into important natural parks such as Fanes - Sennes and Braies Nature Park and Puez-Odle Nature Park. Monte Cavallo, La Varella, Lagazuoi, Cima Cunturines and Monte Gardenaccia are just some of the Dolomite peaks surrounding Badia.
The origins of the name and the history of Badia
The toponym Badia is linked to the Abbey of Castel Badia, located near Brunico. In the Middle Ages, Badia was colonized by the Order of Saint Benedict of Castel Sonnenburg, one of the most important landowners in the region. Badia belonged to the judicial district of Marebbe in the district of Brunico until the end of the First World War. In 2012, a large landslide devastated the territory between the villages of Anvì and Sottrù, but only three houses were involved.
The coat of arms of Badia
The coat of arms of Badia is that of the Winkler von Colz zu Rubatsch family, which owned some land in the municipality in the 16th and 17th centuries. The shield is parted, with a black ibex in the upper part and three alternating silver and red sectors in the lower part. In the center of the lower part, there is a rose of the opposite color to the background and the central petal is golden. The coat of arms was adopted in 1967.
The monuments and places of interest in Badia
Badia is rich in monuments and emblematic places. The Sanctuary of Santa Croce above Badia is a must-see for all tourists, as well as the Colz Castle in La Villa and the Church of San Leonardo. The Church of Saints James and Leonardo, built in the late 18th century in baroque style near the hamlet of San Leonardo, is adorned with splendid frescoes by Matthäus Günther. The Sanctuary of Santa Croce, on the other hand, is located at the foot of the Sasso di Santa Croce, not far from the hamlet of San Leonardo.
Conclusions
Badia is a magical place located in the Dolomites, a territory with imposing peaks and breathtaking views. The history of Badia is intimately linked to the colonizing work of the Order of Saint Benedict of Castel Sonnenburg and the presence of the Abbey of Castel Badia. The municipality also satisfies the tastes of the most demanding visitors with its splendid monuments and places of interest, such as the Sanctuary of Santa Croce and the Church of Saints James and Leonardo. Come to Badia and discover the beauty of Val Badia!
