Museo Gherdëina

Museum Gherdëina in Ortisei brings together the cultural and natural history of Val Gardena. Housed in the Cësa di Ladins, it connects woodcarving and painting with archaeology, minerals and the ancient marine life of the Dolomites.

Why it matters

The collections place the valley's artistic traditions within a longer account of landscape and settlement. Wooden toys and sacred sculpture preserve different aspects of local craftsmanship, while archaeological finds document earlier human presence.

What to notice

The museum holds sculptures and paintings by local artists, historic wooden toys and the richly painted Lenten cloth from Saint James' Church, dated 1620. Luis Trenker's archive and a permanent exhibition recall the actor and director's mountain films. Fossilised ichthyosaur bones found on Seceda in 1968 provide evidence for the prehistoric sea that preceded the present mountain landscape.

Context and history

The museum developed through the Ladin community's efforts to preserve its heritage around 1960. Its collections include original sculpture and altar objects from Saint James' Church, where carved replicas take their place. This relationship connects museum conservation with the continuing artistic identity of the churches around Ortisei.