Bolzano – The fresh air smells of resin and freshly baked bread. The pastel-colored houses look like they’re straight out of an alpine fairytale. Sloping roofs are heavy with snow in winter and with flowers in summer. Chiusa is a village that enchants at first glance, but only those who are willing to listen may discover its genuine essence. The Isarco River rushes past the village, its constant murmur a soundtrack to daily life. Every business on the cobblestone streets is a discovery: wood sculptors' workshops where Madonnas and animals are carved with millimeter accuracy, bakeries where rye bread is still prepared in wood-fired ovens, and wine bars where bottles of Gewürztraminer are stored as if they were gems. The Assumption Church, with its onion-shaped bell tower, dominates the village, while higher up, perched on a rocky outcrop, the Sabiona Monastery watches over the valley. Climbing to that sanctuary is a secular pilgrimage that provides amazing views: Chiusa from above is a perfect puzzle of rooftops, alleyways, and little, orderly vegetable gardens. In winter, under a blanket of snow, the village becomes even more magical. The Christmas market brightens the main square with flickering lights, the aroma of mulled wine and hot krapfen envelops visitors, and in the distance, the rhythmic cracking of the whips of the "Schnalzern", a historic ritual that proclaims the arrival of Christmas, can be heard. One of the most well-known legends involves a secret tunnel from Sabiona's monastery to the banks of the Isarco River. According to the myth, a fleeing nun would have traversed it at night, guided by the light of a never-extinguished candle. Even the dense and nearly mystical forest above Chiusa is the setting for ancient stories: it is claimed to be home to a monster known as "Der Wilde Mann", or the Wild Man, a forest spirit who only appears to those who respect nature. Chiusa is also home to one of South Tyrol's most unique festivals, the Gassltörggelen, which every autumn fills the village's streets with music, roasted chestnuts, and fresh wine to celebrate friendship and harvest.