San Lorenzo di Sebato (St. Lorenzen in German) is a town in the province of Bolzano, located at the intersection between Val Pusteria and Val Badia, the first main centre, at short distance from hiking and skiing area of Plan de Corones.
The name "Sanctum Laurentium" is documented since 1070, while "Sebato" refers to the ancient Roman "statio" (caoch station) of Saebatum.
The area was inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds unearthed over the centuries. The remains of a fortified settlement, found in the surrounding hills attest the presence of the Reti, a population subjected by the Romans in 15 B.C., the latter, in particular, recognized the strategic importance of the area and built a military garrison, calling it Saebatum.
In the Middle Ages the fate of the area was determined by the events and clashes between the castles of San Michele and "Sonnenburg" in which ruled the accounts of Pusteria and of Lurn. At the time, these courts dominated the entire Valley of Pusteria.
It is a resort, ideal all year round, thanks to the simultaneous presence of attractions that can satisfy even the most demanding tourists: from the bicycle paths to the hiking trails and from the ski area of Plan de Corones to the rockface climbing of the nearby peaks. All in contact with the beautiful and uncontaminated environment.
Sites of Interest:
- the duplicate of the landmark milestone, discovered in 1857 and now on display at the Museum Ferdinandeum of Innsbruck;
- the archaeological remains (huts, storages, coins and utensils) of the Rhaetian and Roman eras;
- the X century Castle Badia-Sonnenburg, with its interesting crypt embellished with frescoes and the remains of the Benedictine monastery, founded in 1083;
- the Castel of San Michele (Michelsburg in German), a XII century building in Romanesque style, still in good condition, although in ruins, whose history is closely tied to the vicissitudes of the entire Val Pusteria;
- the Church of Sares, a pilgrimage site, where the Black Madonna is venerated;
- the Church of San Lorenzo, the structure reveals an irregular shaped building that was erected in several stages, between the XIII and XVI centuries. Inside is preserved the famous masterpiece "Madonna with Child and grapes" by the artist Michael Pacher;
- the XV century Church of Santa Margherita;
- the Church of Fronwies, another pilgrimage site of the area, decorated with murals by Josef Renzler.