Holiday in Scena,
near Merano
Scena has plenty of history. Visit the impressive 14th-century Scena Castle and the Mausoleum, the resting place of Archduke Johann and his family. Right next to it is the neo-Gothic new parish church in Scena and the Romanesque old parish church of Scena, from the 12th century. There is also St Martin's Chapel, St Barbara's Chapel and the round church of San Giorgio, to discover in Scena.
Hiking in and around Scena. The Waalweg of Scena (Waalweg path) is an idyllic, gently sloping hiking trail along an artificial irrigation channel, also known as the Waal, which channels water from the mountains into the valleys to the orchards and fields. The trail begins in the wild Masul gorge/Masulschlucht, north of Scena, and crosses the entire Scena mountain to the Val Nova/Naiftal valley, south of the village, and is ideal for getting you in the mood for more challenging hikes during the first few days of your holiday. Explore the extensive hiking areas of Hirzer and Meran 2000, with their alpine pastures and mountain peaks, or experience the Gruppo di Tessa/Texel Group Nature Park, the largest protected area in South Tyrol with its diverse flora and fauna, waterfalls and crystal-clear Sopranes lakes and glaciers.
The Trauttmansdorff Castle botanical gardens are a true paradise for plant lovers. They extend over 12 hectares and contain more than 80 different garden landscapes from all over the world. Trauttmansdorff Castle has a botanical garden that is divided into four themed areas.These are the Forest Garden, the Sun Gardens, the Water and Terrace Gardens and the Landscape gardens. The Touriseum, South Tyrol's first museum related to the history of tourism, is also located on the site.
The Ippodromo di Merano is one of the oldest and most renowned equestrian sports facilities in Europe. It was opened in 1935 and can accommodate up to 40,000 spectators. The Ippodromo di Merano is also famous for the Gran Prix of Merano steeplechase, which takes place every year in September and is considered the most difficult and spectacular in the world, but also for other races that take place throughout the year, such as the Haflinger gallop race at Easter, various events, festivals and concerts.
If the weather doesn't play along, there are plenty of museums in Bolzano/Bozen and Merano waiting for your visit. Here are a few recommendations:
Museion in Bolzano: the museum of modern and contemporary art was founded in 1985 and has an extensive collection of over 4,500 works.
Merano Arte: the Merano Arte, an exhibition space that hosts temporary exhibitions dedicated to the fine arts, architecture, literature, music, photography and new media.
At the Archaeology Museum of South Tyrol, you can admire the famous glacier mummy Ötzi and his tools and explore the prehistory and early history of South Tyrol.
The Messner Mountain Museum MMM Firmian is one of six mountain museums founded by mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner. It is located in the former Castle Firmiano and is dedicated to the theme of people and mountains.
The South Tyrolean Museum of History is housed in Tyrol Castle, the ancestral castle of the Counts of Tyrol. It shows the history of South Tyrol from prehistoric times to the present.
The Merano Women’s Museum focuses on the history and culture of women in different eras and countries.
The Museum Passiria, on the other land, presents the history of the Val Passiria/Passeiertal valley and its famous son Andreas Hofer, who was known as the leader of the Tyrolean fight for freedom against Napoleon.
Tips for when the sun shines
Explore the area around Scena by bike or e-bike. There are lots of cycle paths that take you through orchards, vineyards and villages. You can also take part in guided tours or rent a bike.
Those with a head for heights can try out the Taser high ropes course, which offers an adventure among the trees. Various courses with different levels of difficulty that are suitable for all ages. Or you can take on the popular ferrata Heini Holzer via, a 1,000 m long via ferrata on the Ivigna Peak/Ifinger near Scena, which was named after the famous alpinist Heini Holzer. The via ferrata offers magnificent views of the Alpi Sarentine and stretches over 500 m in altitude up to the Little Ivigna Peak.
If you would like to explore the mountains from the saddle of a sure-footed Haflinger horse, a ride at Hotel Sulfner is just the thing. A variety of tours are available, ranging from an hour to a full day.
For adventure-seekers who want to experience the mountain world from a completely different perspective, a tandem flight from the Ifinger Tandemclub Paragliding Centre is a hot tip. The tandem flights take place in bright sunshine and the best thermals, so that tandem flight guests can feel like they are one step away from heaven.
Some ideas for water lovers:
Scena panoramic pool: the panoramic outdoor swimming pool Lido Scena, above Merano, offers fantastic views over the vineyards to the mountains. It features a whirlpool, a waterslide, several bowling alleys and two tennis courts. Plenty of fun for the whole family.
The Merano Thermal Baths are a place of peace and relaxation. Everything revolves around your well-being in the 25 indoor and outdoor pools, the saunas, the fitness centre and the MySpa. The thermal spa offers a 7,650 m² thermal spa area and a sauna zone with 8 saunas and steam baths.
Bathing lakes: relax at one of the many crystal-clear mountain lakes during your hikes or treat yourself to a day of swimming at the Great Lake of Monticolo Grande or Lake Caldaro. The Gargazzone natural swimming pool also invites you to enjoy a relaxing day of swimming in the nature.
The Parcines Waterfall waterfall is an impressive natural spectacle in South Tyrol. With a drop height of 97 m, it is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the entire Alpine region.
Südtirol Rafting Expeditions: offers rafting tours on the Passirio river. In front of an impressive Alpine panorama, you can conquer the waves of the exciting river in rafting boats.
