Last updated: August 2026
San Giovanni in Ranui was one of the stops I made in the Val di Funes after seeing Santa Maddalena. I had already seen that small church standing alone among the fields many times, with the Odle mountains appearing behind it, and I wanted to see up close whether the landscape was really like the photos.
I visited the place at the end of June 2026, the same day I passed through Seceda, Santa Maddalena and other spots in Val di Funes. I drove and parked near the Ranui area before continuing on foot.
The visit is simple and doesn't take much time, but the combination of the church with the fields and mountains in the background makes the place feel completely different from Santa Maddalena, even though it's in the same region.
Quick Facts
- Time needed: about 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Location: Val di Funes, Dolomites
- Access: car or public transport
- Parking: paid, in the Ranui area
- Walk: short
- Main draw: the San Giovanni in Ranui church with the Odle in the background
- Church area: private property
- Best time: when the mountains have good visibility
- Difficulty: easy
San Giovanni in Ranui is a short visit. For me, the main reason to go was to see the church within the landscape and find different angles of the Odle mountains in the background.
Why Visit San Giovanni in Ranui?
It's hard to separate the church from the landscape around it. San Giovanni in Ranui is already interesting on its own, but what really stands out is its location, surrounded by fields practically at the foot of the Odle mountains.
That's what struck me most when I arrived. The mountains look even bigger with the small church in the foreground, and that difference in scale is exactly what made the image so well known.
I had already been to Santa Maddalena before, but the feeling here was different. At Santa Maddalena, the whole village is part of the landscape. At Ranui, the attention is focused much more on the church.
Is It Worth Visiting San Giovanni in Ranui?
For me, it's worth it mainly if you're already seeing Val di Funes. I wouldn't travel to this part of the Dolomites just to spend a few minutes at San Giovanni in Ranui, but including the church in an itinerary with Santa Maddalena makes a lot of sense.
Both attractions are in the same region and show different perspectives of the same mountains. That's how I organized my day: after walking around the panoramic areas of Santa Maddalena, I continued to Ranui to see the church and the Odle from another angle.
Since the visit is short, fitting both places into the same itinerary was easy.
How to Get to San Giovanni in Ranui
San Giovanni in Ranui is in Val di Funes, near Santa Maddalena.
On my trip, I arrived by car after visiting Santa Maddalena.
For those coming from other parts of the Dolomites, access usually passes through Chiusa before entering Val di Funes and continuing toward Santa Maddalena and Ranui.
The road is paved and you can drive right up to the area near the church.
Official Alto Adige tourism sources also state that you can arrive by public transport from Chiusa or Bressanone, getting off at the Ranui stop. From there, it's about a five-minute walk.
In my case, the car remained the most practical option because San Giovanni was part of an itinerary with several stops on the same day.
Where to Park at San Giovanni in Ranui?
There are paid parking areas in the Ranui region. I left the car there and did the rest of the visit on foot.
Official Alto Adige tourism sources point to parking near the bus stop and in the Ranui area itself, both subject to a fee. Since rules and rates can change, I'd check the latest information before the trip.
There's no need to try to drive right up to the church. Besides being a rural area, there's private property and fields that need to be respected.
Where Is the Best View of San Giovanni in Ranui?
The best-known view is exactly the one where the small church appears surrounded by fields, with the Odle mountains taking up almost the entire background.
When I arrived, I immediately recognized that view that appears in so many photos.
But I wouldn't just look for one exact spot.
Small changes in position already change the relationship between the church and the mountains quite a bit.
What I liked most was seeing the difference in scale between the building and the huge Odle walls behind it.
On days with good visibility, that combination is the main reason to include Ranui in a Val di Funes itinerary.
Can You Reach the San Giovanni in Ranui Church?
The church sits on private property.
According to official Alto Adige tourism sources, access to the property is subject to a fee, and the church itself remains closed to visitors.
For me, the visit is worthwhile mainly for the landscape and the outdoor area. You don't need to go inside the church to enjoy the stop, because the most interesting part was already outside: seeing the building with the mountains behind it.
It's also important to respect the fences and not step into the surrounding fields to try to get a different photo.
The History of San Giovanni in Ranui
The church is dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk.
According to official Alto Adige tourism sources, it was built in 1744 on the initiative of Michael von Jenner.
The small Baroque building stands out mainly for its location, but it also holds paintings and a marbled wooden altar inside.
I found it interesting to learn a bit of this history after the visit. When you're there, it's easy to pay attention only to the landscape, since the Odle dominate the scene, but the church itself is already nearly three centuries old.
How Long to Spend at San Giovanni in Ranui
I'd set aside roughly 30 minutes to 1 hour.
That's enough to park, walk to the church area, take in the view and take some photos without rushing.
I wouldn't set aside several hours exclusively for this visit. San Giovanni in Ranui works best as part of a larger Val di Funes itinerary, and that's how I organized my day.
Santa Maddalena deserves more time to walk around and look for different perspectives. Ranui is a more concentrated stop, where the church and the mountains are the main focus.
Do You Need to Hike?
No. To see San Giovanni in Ranui, I didn't need any long hike, and the walk from the parking area is short.
If you're using public transport, official Alto Adige tourism sources list roughly five minutes of walking between the Ranui stop and the church area.
That's why I consider this one of the easiest attractions to fit into a day in Val di Funes.
There are longer trails that start in the Ranui area, but those are different experiences and aren't necessary to see the church.
Best Time to Visit San Giovanni in Ranui
Just like at Santa Maddalena, I'd worry mainly about the mountains' visibility.
The Odle are a fundamental part of the landscape.
If they're completely covered by clouds, you'll still see the church and the fields, but the composition changes quite a bit.
On my itinerary, I visited Ranui after Santa Maddalena and didn't try to arrive at a specific time just for the light.
For me, it made more sense to organize the day practically and enjoy Val di Funes without being tied to an exact time for each photo.
If photography is a priority, it's worth checking the sun's position and the sky conditions before the visit.
Can You Visit San Giovanni in Ranui Without a Car?
Yes.
Official Alto Adige tourism sources state that there are buses through Val di Funes from Chiusa and Bressanone, stopping at Ranui.
From the stop, it's roughly a five-minute walk.
If you plan to see Santa Maddalena and San Giovanni on the same day, it's possible to organize the visit using public transport.
In my case, the car was more convenient because I was coming from Seceda and seeing several places in the Dolomites on the same day.
Are San Giovanni in Ranui and Santa Maddalena the Same Place?
No.
They're close together and often show up side by side when you research Val di Funes, but they're different places.
Santa Maddalena is a small village, and its best-known views show houses, fields, the village church and the Odle mountains.
San Giovanni in Ranui is an isolated church on rural property, with a composition much more focused on the building itself and the mountains behind it.
I liked seeing both precisely because of that difference.
Even though they're so close together, the photos and the experience are quite different.
If you're driving, I'd include both in the same part of the day.
What to Expect
San Giovanni in Ranui was a simple visit, with no complicated plan needed: you arrive, park, walk a few minutes and find one of the best-known landscapes in Val di Funes.
It was exactly that simplicity that I liked. After spending part of the day walking at Seceda and exploring Santa Maddalena, it was nice to make a shorter stop just to take in the view.
The church is small, but the mountains behind it make the scene feel enormous. That difference in scale was what struck me most during the visit.
San Giovanni in Ranui is also part of my one-day itinerary through Seceda and Val di Funes, where I show how I combined Seceda, Santa Maddalena and Ranui on the same day.
Practical Tips for Visiting San Giovanni in Ranui
- Combine the visit with Santa Maddalena if you're seeing Val di Funes
- Set aside roughly 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Park in the Ranui area and continue on foot
- Check the mountains' visibility before the visit
- Respect the private properties and fences
- Don't step into the fields to take photos
- Don't count on visiting the inside of the church
- If you're without a car, check the bus schedules to Ranui
- You don't need to hike to see the main landscape