Nova Ponente and Monte S. Pietro
Nova Ponente
The Nova Ponente area in the Ega valley had already been settled between 5,700 and 5,000 B.C. The first documented evidence of Nova Ponente was in 1145 under the name of "Nove". From the 14th century names like "Tautschnofen" and "Teitschenofen» which appear for the first time, come very close to the German name for the village, Deutschnofen.
Nova Ponente lies on the high plateau of the Regglberg above Val d'Ega. The district, which numbers almost 4,000 inhabitants, extends upwards to altitudes of between 418 and 2,799 m.
Apart from the village, the district of Nova Ponente includes Monte San Pietro, Ega and Obereggen. All the villages of the district are connected to the "Alpine Pearls" network, since they are pearls of the Alps and want to promote sustainable tourism in harmony with the environment.
Nova Ponente lies at an altitude of 1,357 m on a sunny high plateau east of the Sciliar Mountain Massif, Catinaccio and Latemar. In the south lie the Corno Bianca, the Corno Nero and the Zanggen mountains. In the east the view sweeps across the landscape to Costiera della Mendola.
In this heavenly mountain world the inhabitants still live as they have always done, with farming as the predominant occupation. In the 13th century Nova Ponente was named as its own court of jurisdiction. Judgements were pronounced in the Castel Tor, the present seat of the municipal administration and the museum.
Nova Ponente is a wonderful place to plunge into the natural world and to enjoy the most beautiful walks and hikes through this magnificent landscape with its forests and meadows. The chalets on the Regelberg look like fitting homes for the dwarfs and fairies of the sagas. Various fixed-aid climbing paths and challenging hiking trails lead into the mountain world, where you have the impression that you can almost feel the pulse of the mountains.
Winter in Nova Ponnete is completely devoted to sport! A free shuttle service connects all the hamlets in the district with the Ski Centre Latemar-Obereggen 7 km away. In ten minutes it will take you to 48 km of snow slopes, cross-country ski tracks and super toboggan runs.
If you are keen on cross-country skiing, you will discover a romantic variant: well marked tracks lead to various, remote chalets. After brisk exercise in the fresh air, a break for some healthy, traditional cooking is just the thing! You can leave your everyday cares behind!
You have a total of more than 100 km of cross-country track in the area, which extends from Nova Ponente to Mont San Pietro, to the Passo di Lavazè to Passo di Lavazè and to the Passo San Pellegrino. The tracks are well developed and prepared and when necessary they are covered with artificial snow.
A visit to the 15th century Gothic parish church is a must for your programme, even if your visit is short, for it contains wonderful wood carved embossments, including carved diptychs on a high altar from the 15th century. No less interesting is the Church of St Helm, with a superb view towards Catinaccio, Latemar and the Sciliar Mountain Massif and the little church of St. Agatha, about an hour's walk from the village.
Monte San Pietro
At an altitude of 1,389 m and 7 km from Nova Ponente lies a little hamlet with only 600 inhabitants: Monte San Pietro
As if embracing it, meadows and woods nestle around this village, set in natural surroundings as if in a storybook. In the peaceful, magical village of Monte San Pietro there is the province's highest golf course. The golf architect, Marco Croze has laid out at Steinachhof at an altitude of 1,200 m an 18-hole golf course which is perfectly integrated into the landscape.
Monte San Pietro is also very well known as a place of pilgrimage, for it contains one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the whole of South Tyrol: the Maria Weißenstein Convent, a magnificent Baroque church from the 17th century, which offers a panoramic view across to the Ortler Alps.
In winter there is a free shuttle service from Monte San Pietro to the Ski Centre Latemar.
