Chienes: A thousand years of history and natural beauty

The municipality of Chienes, nestled in the green Val Pusteria, stretches along the sunny Strada del Sole and includes the charming hamlets of Casteldarne, San Sigismondo, Corti and the scattered farmsteads along the Monghezzo ridge. At an altitude of 748 m a.s.l., Chienes lies where the Rio Verde meets the Rienza River, offering a bucolic and relaxing landscape. The name “Kiena” first appeared between 1006 and 1039 in a document from the Abbey of Freising, but its origins may date back to the mythical Castrum Chienes, an ancient settlement near the village church.

Hamlets to discover: Castles, Gothic art and timeless farmsteads

The village center is home to the Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul, built between 1835 and 1838, with a Gothic tower dating back to the 15th century. Inside, frescoes and painted decorations adorn the ceiling of the nave.

In Casteldarne, overlooked by the slopes of the Monghezzo, stands the namesake castlecastle and a valuable Roman milestone, evidence of the ancient passage of emperors Septimius Severus, Caracalla and Geta.

San Sigismondo is famous for its late-Gothic parish church, enriched by a polyptych from 1440 belonging to the Donauschule and by the works of the Master of San Sigismondo, a painter known for his depictions of the life of Mary.

The hamlet of Corti, framed by ancient rural farmsteads, preserves the graceful Church of St. Martin, an example of Gothic architecture with Romanesque elements. Inside, a striking polyptych from 1520 stands out, still perfectly preserved.