St Valentin/San Valentino

San Valentino alla Muta, known in German as St. Valentin auf der Haide, is a small mountain village in the Vinschgau (Val Venosta) valley of South Tyrol, close to the Austrian border and the Reschen Pass. The hamlet takes its name from its own lake, the Haidersee (Lago di San Valentino), popular for sailing and windsurfing thanks to the steady winds that sweep through this high alpine valley. A few kilometres away lies the larger Lake Reschen, well known for the submerged bell tower that rises from its waters, one of the region's most recognisable sights. Surrounded by peaks often exceeding 2,500 metres, the area is well suited to outdoor pursuits, with hiking in summer and alpine or cross-country skiing in winter at resorts near the Reschen Pass. The Via Claudia Augusta cycle route, following an ancient Roman road linking Italy and Germany, also passes through the area, drawing cycling tourists. The alpine climate, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters, sets the pace of life in this quiet rural locality, well away from the busier resorts elsewhere in South Tyrol.