Sentiero panoramico dell'Alpe di Siusi

The Alpe di Siusi's open grassland spreads between Monte Piz, Saltria and the Giogo, beneath a wide horizon of Dolomite peaks.

Why it matters

The Seiser Alm is an extensive high-Alpine plateau. Its own tourism portal measures it at roughly 6,000 hectares and calls it Europe's largest high-altitude Alpine pasture — a single, mostly treeless sweep of grass lying between about 1,680 and 2,000 metres, folded beneath the Sciliar and facing the Sassolungo group. The plateau's four named settlements — Compatsch, Piz, Saltria and Giogo — lie within the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, amid protected high-Alpine meadows and largely open grassland.

What to notice

The Sciliar massif closes the southern horizon with its 2,563-metre summit, South Tyrol's landmark mountain. To the east, the Sassolungo (3,181 m) and Sasso Piatto (2,969 m) form a Dolomite skyline. Monte Piz opens views across the Alpe di Siusi and Val Gardena, while the Odle group and Seceda mark the northern horizon. Schwaige farmsteads, including Contrin and Schgaguler, reflect the plateau's pastoral history.

Context and history

The plateau's settlements grew around meadow farming rather than tourism. Schwaige farmsteads that now serve visitors as inns were working dairies, and grazing continues to shape the grassland. Compatsch developed into a hub with the growth of lift infrastructure and accommodation. Its protected status within the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park helps preserve the open meadow landscape.