Last updated: August 2026
Santa Maddalena was one of the places that surprised me most in Val di Funes. I already knew that classic image of the small village surrounded by fields with the Odle mountains behind it, but seeing the combination in person impressed me even more.
I visited Santa Maddalena at the end of June 2026, the same day I went to Seceda. After spending the morning on the mountain, I drove to Val di Funes and left the car in the central part of the village.
What I most wanted to find was exactly that wide view of Santa Maddalena with the Odle in the background. Reaching the best angles doesn't require a long hike, but it's worth walking a bit along the paths above the village. That's where I found some of the views I liked most on that day in the Dolomites.
Quick Facts
- Time needed: about 1 to 2 hours
- Location: Val di Funes, Dolomites
- Access: car or public transport
- Parking: in the village area
- Walk: short, with some uphill stretches
- Main draw: view of the village with the Odle mountains
- Best time: when the mountains have good visibility
- Difficulty: easy
Santa Maddalena is a small village, so the visit doesn't require a full day. For me, the most interesting part was walking around the area without rushing and looking for different angles of the church, the houses, the fields and, above all, the mountains behind them.
Why Visit Santa Maddalena?
The location is what makes Santa Maddalena so special.
The village is surrounded by fields and farmland, while the Odle mountains appear almost like a wall on the horizon.
It's a very different landscape from Seceda. At Seceda you're at the top of the mountain, looking at the peaks up close. At Santa Maddalena, you see those same mountains from the valley, with small houses, a church and farmland forming part of the landscape.
It was exactly that contrast that I liked: I had just seen the Odle from above, and a few hours later I was looking at the same mountains from a completely different perspective.
Is It Worth Visiting Santa Maddalena?
For me, it was worth it, mainly because I included Santa Maddalena in the same itinerary as Seceda, Val di Funes and San Giovanni in Ranui.
It's not an attraction with dozens of things to do. The reason for the visit is the landscape itself: walking through the village, looking at the mountains from the valley and finding the classic view of the Odle behind Santa Maddalena.
If you enjoy photography or want to see a quieter side of the Dolomites, the stop makes a lot of sense.
How to Get to Santa Maddalena
Santa Maddalena is in Val di Funes, in northern Italy.
On my trip, I arrived by car after visiting Seceda.
For anyone driving through the Dolomites, access to Val di Funes usually goes through the Chiusa area, then follows the road that enters the valley toward Santa Maddalena.
The road is paved and access by car is simple.
It's also possible to arrive by public transport. Official Alto Adige tourism sources say there are bus services to Santa Maddalena from towns such as Chiusa and Bressanone.
In my case, the car was more practical because I was combining different places on the same day.
Where to Park in Santa Maddalena?
I left the car in the central area of Santa Maddalena and continued the visit on foot.
That was a practical choice because the best angles of the village aren't necessarily right next to the parking area. To see more of the region, it's worth leaving the car and walking.
Official Alto Adige tourism sources also point to parking in the central area of Santa Maddalena. For anyone planning to reach the church, the official guidance is to continue on foot, since the direct access road to the church is restricted to residents.
Parking rules can change, so I'd check the latest information before the trip.
Where Is the Classic View of Santa Maddalena?
The view that appears so often in photos of Val di Funes is found in the higher areas around the village.
After parking, I walked roughly 10 to 15 minutes before starting to find more open perspectives over Santa Maddalena. As you climb, the houses drop below the sightline and the Odle mountains appear more and more behind the village, exactly the combination I was looking for.
I didn't stick to one single spot. I preferred to walk around the area and stop whenever I found an interesting perspective, because just a few meters already change the relationship between the church, the houses, the fields and the mountains.
The Santa Maddalena Church
The Santa Maddalena church is one of the main landmarks of the village and appears in many of Val di Funes' panoramic views.
According to official Alto Adige tourism sources, the church is mentioned as early as 1394, and the current late-Gothic building dates from 1492.
For me, the most interesting part was seeing it integrated into the landscape. As you climb toward the panoramic areas, the church appears among the houses and fields while the Odle dominate the background.
It's exactly that combination that creates one of the most recognizable images of Val di Funes.
How Long to Spend at Santa Maddalena
I'd set aside roughly 1 to 2 hours.
If the goal is to park, walk to a few panoramic spots, take photos and see a bit of the village, that's enough time.
I wouldn't set aside many hours just for Santa Maddalena if I were also seeing other parts of Val di Funes the same day, but I also wouldn't make it a stop of just a few minutes. The best part was walking around the areas near the village, where perspectives appear that aren't visible from the main road.
Do You Need to Hike to See Santa Maddalena?
No. To see the village's main views, I didn't need a long hike. There are paths and small climbs, but I'd consider the experience more of a panoramic walk than a trail like Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
If you want to walk a bit more, official Alto Adige tourism sources point to an easy circuit of roughly 3.2 km around the Santa Maddalena area, taking about an hour.
You don't need to complete that circuit to find good views.
On my visit, walking through the areas above the village was already enough to find several interesting perspectives.
Best Time to Visit Santa Maddalena
I'd worry more about the mountains' visibility than about an exact time of day.
The Odle are a fundamental part of the landscape. If the mountains are completely covered by clouds, the experience changes a lot.
It's also worth considering the position of the sun if photography is a priority.
On my itinerary, Santa Maddalena came after Seceda, and that combination worked well because I got to see two completely different perspectives of the same mountains on the same day.
I wouldn't rearrange my itinerary just to arrive at Santa Maddalena at a specific time.
For me, it made more sense to enjoy Seceda early and then head to Val di Funes at a relaxed pace.
Can You Visit Santa Maddalena Without a Car?
Yes.
There are public transport services to Santa Maddalena from towns such as Chiusa and Bressanone.
Official Alto Adige tourism sources also list these connections as an option for reaching the village.
If you plan to see only Santa Maddalena and the surrounding area, public transport is a viable alternative.
On my itinerary, though, the car made more sense because I wanted to combine Santa Maddalena with other places in Val di Funes on the same day.
Are Santa Maddalena and San Giovanni in Ranui the Same Place?
No.
This is an easy mix-up to make once you start researching Val di Funes.
Santa Maddalena is the small village that appears in many of the panoramic views with the Odle in the background.
San Giovanni in Ranui is another very famous church in Val di Funes, set in a different scene and visited separately.
I saw both places the same day, but they're quite different visits.
Santa Maddalena stood out to me more for the wide views of the village and the mountains.
At San Giovanni in Ranui, the church is the main element of the landscape, with the Odle appearing behind it.
What to Expect
Santa Maddalena didn't require a rigid plan. I parked, started walking and kept looking for different perspectives, which I think is a good way to see the village.
I wouldn't worry about recreating exactly a photo seen online, because other angles appear as you walk. What I liked most was seeing how such a small village seems to be part of the Dolomites landscape itself, with the houses, fields and church in the foreground while the Odle dominate the horizon.
Santa Maddalena is also part of my one-day itinerary through Seceda and Val di Funes, where I show how I combined Seceda, Santa Maddalena and San Giovanni in Ranui on the same day.
Practical Tips for Visiting Santa Maddalena
- Park in the village area and continue the visit on foot
- Set aside at least 1 to 2 hours if you want to walk and look for different views
- Wear comfortable shoes, since there are some uphill stretches
- Don't stay only in the central area of the village
- Walk up to the higher areas to find more open views of the Odle
- Check the forecast and, above all, the mountains' visibility
- Respect private property, crops and closed paths
- Don't step into fields just to get a photo
- Combine Santa Maddalena with other places in Val di Funes if you're driving