Selva di Val Gardena
The stunning Pusteria Valley, situated at the foot of the Central-Eastern Alps
The Pusteria Valley is a beautiful valley in the Central-Eastern Alps, located in between the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and Eastern Tyrol. It extends for about 100 km from east to west, between Bressanone and Lienz, surrounded by breathtaking plateaus and mountains.
History
From the origins to Napoleon
The history of the Pusteria Valley is ancient and very interesting. The famous Via Claudia Augusta was built around 50 A.D., connecting Verona to Augusta. The Pusteria Valley was located along this famous road, as evidenced by the presence of milestones.
The valley was first mentioned in 974 with the name "Pustrussa". In 1764, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria began to enhance the road and postal service that went through Pusteria. In 1847, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria strengthened the Pusteria road, as it was a strategic route between Vienna and northern Italy.
World War I
During World War I, the Sesto Croda Rossa ("Rotwand") became the main battlefield for the conflicts between Italy and Austria-Hungary in the valley. Sesto, San Candido, and Dobbiaco were among the towns in Pusteria most involved during the Great War. Today, there are several military cemeteries, shrines, monuments, fortifications, and trenches present in these territories.
Contemporary era
In 1938, the ANAS renewed the road, making several changes to the route and widening the carriageway along the entire path. In those years, it was decided to fortify the valley, as it was considered a strategic way. This led to the construction of several defensive barriers belonging to the XV Pusteria Coverage Sector of the Alpine Wall in South Tyrol.
After the war, there were plans to enhance the Alemagna road, which was supposed to connect Venice to Munich. However, there were several protests from locals since the seventies. In the nineties, the traffic in Pusteria reached such high levels that the province began to build several bypass roads in Brunico, Rio di Pusteria, Monguelfo, and Villabassa.
Physical geography
The Pusteria Valley is located in the western part of the Insubric Line, separating the southern limestone Alps from the central ones, and most of the Alpine limestone from the gneiss and slate of the central section peaks. The valley extends from the Adriatic Sea to the Black Sea, with a watershed in the valley floor, at the Dobbiaco Saddle. The Rienza River flows in Western Pusteria (also known as the "Green Valley"), while in the eastern part (also called Upper Pusteria/ "Hochpustertal"), divided between Italy and Austria, the Drau River flows.
However, the political boundaries of the Pusteria Valley do not coincide with the geographical ones. After the end of World War I in 1918, the state border was fixed 6 km further east, at a lower altitude, precisely in the locality of Prato alla Drava, for strictly military reasons.
Conclusions
The Pusteria Valley is a very beautiful and interesting valley from a historical and geographical point of view. Crossed by the Via Claudia Augusta, known for the numerous sacrifices made by the local population during the Great War, it offers breathtaking landscapes and numerous points of interest. If you are looking for a place to relax and discover the local nature, culture, and traditions, the Pusteria Valley is definitely the best choice.
