Located in the heart of the Inn Valley, surrounded by vineyards and chestnut woods, Chiusa (Klausen in German) is an enchanting tourist resort in the province of Bolzano. The name refers to the narrow natural passage between the rock of Sabiona, the Inn River and the stream Tinne.
That the area was inhabited in pre-Roman times, is testified by the presence of the remains of tombs dating back to the Rhaetian Ages. Sabiona was an important bishopric between 800 and 1000, before it was transferred to Brixen for reasons of space and greater accessibility. The town experienced the heyday between 1350 and 1550, thanks to the exploitation of the mines in the valley of Tinne and the consequent commercial traffic.
The medieval old town, dominated by the fortress of Sabiona with the Benedictine monastery of the same name, has a typical South Tyrolean appearance, in 1494, stayed the master Alberecht Dürer during his trip to Italy.
Sites of Interest:
- the Church of the Apostles, dating from the second half of the XV century, in the Gothic style with a single nave;
- the Church of St. Andrew, late-Gothic, built on an existing building in the Romanesque style;
- the Monastery of Sabiona, overlooking the fortress of the same name, inhabited by Benedictine nuns and partially open to visitors. It is one of the oldest monuments in the region and is located where once stood an artifact dating back to the Stone Age;
- the XI century Church of San Valentino in Verdignes;
- the Church of St. James in Lazfons, recently restored;
- the XV century Church of St. Martin in Gudon;
- the former Capuchin monastery, now seat of the Municipal Library and Museum;
- the beautiful medieval buildings, embellished with coats of arms, crenellated façades and mullioned windows;
- the Town Hall, built in medieval times;
- the Bishopric Customs, embellished with the crests of the Bishops of Brixen;
- the XII century Castle of Gernstein, characterized by towers and battlements, was built to guard the road leading South towards Bressanone;
- Castel Summersberg in Gudon