Calvary

The Calvary - “Kalvarienberg” in German, “Monte Calvario” in Italian - in Caldaro was mentioned for the first time in written documents in 1680, together with a hermitage in this area. Some decades later, the Baroque Holy Cross Church, located on the top of the hill, was documented. This sacred building was built in 1720 by Josef Delai, an architect from Bolzano.

Along the Via Paul Troger road, which starts at the new wine store of the Caldaro Winery and ends at the Holy Cross Church on the Calvary, there are eight chapels. Each one represents a different construction style and is in a different condition. The chapels are privately owned and house statues which depict the Passion of the Christ, making the Calvary a highly frequented site above all during Lent.

The eighth chapel was owned by Maria Anna von Buol-Berenberg (1861 - 1943), a poet, writer and last descendant of the Lords of Buol from Caldaro. She vowed to light a candle in the interior of the chapel every Friday. The 15-minute walk to the top of the Calvary follows the Via Paul Troger road, afterwards you can continue the hike by descending into the so-called “Altenloch” and walking towards the Valle Lavason valley and Appiano.