Maybe in
Italy

Curon Venosta and the Bell Tower in Lake Resia

Curon Venosta is a small mountain municipality in South Tyrol, near Italy’s borders with Austria and Switzerland. Its best-known sight is the church bell tower rising from Lake Resia, the visible remnant of a village flooded when the reservoir was created. But the municipality extends beyond that familiar image: it includes lakeside settlements, the quieter Vallelunga valley and access to alpine trails and ski slopes. It is worth understanding as both a place shaped by a difficult local history and a practical base for time outdoors.

A village reshaped by Lake Resia

The bell tower is the first thing many people associate with Curon Venosta. It belonged to the old village of Curon, which was submerged when Lake Resia was formed for hydroelectric power in the mid-20th century. The tower remained standing, and the present-day village was built nearby. Seen from shore, it is a striking landmark, but its story is about the loss of homes and farmland, not just an unusual photograph. Lake Resia now defines much of the area’s appearance. A path follows its shore, with broad views across the water to the surrounding mountains. The lake can be windy, a quality that draws people for windsurfing and kitesurfing in suitable conditions. Even for a short stop, the shoreline gives a clear sense of the scale of the reservoir and the high valley around it.

Several settlements, one high valley

Curon Venosta is the name of a municipality rather than a single compact resort. It includes Curon, Resia, San Valentino alla Muta and the settlements of Vallelunga. Resia lies near the Reschen Pass, while San Valentino alla Muta sits beside a smaller lake farther south. Vallelunga branches away from the main valley into a more secluded mountain setting. This is South Tyrol, where German and Italian place names commonly appear side by side; Curon Venosta is also called Graun im Vinschgau. The villages are modest in size, with everyday life mixed in among guesthouses and outdoor recreation. They do not have a large historic center to wander. Their character comes instead from the lakes, working mountain landscape and close connection to the pass.

Mountain days and the realities of getting around

The area suits travelers who want to walk, cycle or spend time in alpine scenery without staying in a large town. Routes range from lakeside outings to more demanding mountain hikes, while the Belpiano–Malga San Valentino ski area serves winter visitors. Conditions change sharply with the seasons: a calm walk by the water and a high-elevation hike require very different planning. Curon Venosta is easiest to explore with a car, especially if you want to move between the villages and reach trailheads. Buses provide another option, but there is no train station in the municipality, and trips into the side valleys need more planning. The pass road also brings through-traffic. For some people this is a scenic, convenient stop on a wider route; for others, the quiet setting is reason enough to stay.

What is there in Curon Venosta?

A quick overview of the most notable things you can find in Curon Venosta.

Lake Resia

The large reservoir shapes the valley’s scenery and has a shoreline path for walks and cycling.

The submerged village’s bell tower

The surviving church tower stands in the lake as a reminder of old Curon.

Lake San Valentino alla Muta

This smaller lake beside the village of the same name provides a quieter waterside setting.

Vallelunga

A side valley of small settlements and mountain trails extends away from the main pass route.

Belpiano–Malga San Valentino ski area

The connected slopes above Resia and San Valentino alla Muta are a focus for winter recreation.

Reschen Pass

The nearby Alpine pass links the area with Austria and helps explain its role as a cross-border route.

What to see in Curon Venosta?

Notable places and attractions connected to Curon Venosta.

01

Bell tower of old Curon

The church tower rising from Lake Resia is the area’s defining landmark and the most visible trace of the flooded village.

02

Lake Resia shoreline

The lakeside path gives close views of the tower, open water and mountains, with room for a longer walk or ride.

03

Lake San Valentino alla Muta

This smaller lake south of Lake Resia is worth seeing for its mountain backdrop and gentler scale.

04

Vallelunga valley

The valley leads away from the busy pass corridor into a quieter area of hamlets and alpine walking routes.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓A distinctive landmark with a tangible local history.
  • ✓Two lakes and mountain scenery close to the villages.
  • ✓Walking, cycling and winter sports in the surrounding area.
  • ✓A useful location for travel between Italy and Austria.
  • ✓A choice between lakeside settlements and the quieter Vallelunga valley.

Cons

  • −No train station in the municipality; reaching some places by public transport takes planning.
  • −The pass road can bring traffic through the area.
  • −High-elevation weather can limit outdoor plans, even in warmer months.
  • −Smaller villages have fewer dining and shopping choices than larger towns.
  • −The bell tower area can feel busy when day-trippers stop for photos.

Location

Curon Venosta is located in Trentino-Alto Adige.

Curon Venosta, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
46.803738, 10.555045
Open in Google Maps

Explore more places in Italy

Discover more cities, towns and destinations across Italy.

Aosta Valley

Aosta

Aosta is the small capital of Italy’s Aosta Valley, set on the valley floor among high Alpine mountains. Its center is unusually rich in Roman remains, yet it still works as an everyday town, with shops, cafés and regional government offices woven into the old streets. People come to see its ancient gates and theater, use it as a base for the surrounding valleys, or take the cable car up to Pila. Aosta is worth understanding as both a historic place and a practical hub: less like an isolated mountain resort, more like a compact city with the Alps close at hand.

→
Lazio

Canino

Canino is a small town in northern Lazio, set among the olive groves and farmland of the Maremma, inland from the Tyrrhenian coast. Its name is closely tied to Canino olive oil and to Vulci, an important ancient Etruscan city whose ruins lie nearby. The town itself has a compact historic center rather than a busy tourist district. It makes sense as a base for travelers interested in archaeology, rural landscapes and the quieter side of the Viterbo area.

→
Calabria

Acri

Acri is an inland town in Calabria’s province of Cosenza, set on hills above the Crati valley where the land rises toward the Sila. It is a lived-in town rather than a resort: old streets and churches sit alongside ordinary shops, homes and surrounding rural neighborhoods. Its strongest landmarks are the Basilica di Sant’Angelo d’Acri and the contemporary art museum in Palazzo Sanseverino-Falcone. Acri makes sense for travelers interested in smaller Calabrian towns, religious heritage and the changing landscape between the valley and the mountains.

→
Piedmont

Andrate

Andrate is a small village in Piedmont, set high above the Ivrea plain near the northern end of the Serra d'Ivrea. The long, wooded ridge is the village's defining feature: it gives Andrate its views, walking routes and sense of distance from the busier towns below. This is a place to understand through its setting rather than a long list of sights. People come for a quiet stay, a walk in the hills or a change of pace while exploring the Canavese area.

→
Apulia

Alberona

Alberona is a small hill village in the Monti Dauni, the upland part of northern Apulia near the border with Molise. It feels quite different from the beach towns and larger cities often associated with Puglia: stone lanes climb through a compact old center, and the surrounding countryside shapes daily life. People come for the village itself, its historic tower and fountains, and the views from its hillside setting. Alberona is best understood as a quiet inhabited place rather than a resort, with a slower pace and fewer visitor services.

→