Val Gardena

In the 19th and 20th century, carving of wooden toys[10] was such a widespread occupation in all Gardenese families that Amelia Edwards called Urtijëi the "capital of Toyland".

In one of her many trips Margaret Warner Morley went to Europe to Val Gardena where she was inspired to write the novel Donkey John of the toy valley.

The Museum Gherdëina in Urtijëi owns a rich collection of historical wooden toys,[13] and woodcarved statues and figurines.

Val Gardena is home to the Saslong Classic, a men's World Cup downhill race that has been held almost every year since 1969.

[15] The Saslong course is considered one of the five "classic" men's downhill races, along with Garmisch-Partenkirchen's Kandahar (GER), Kitzbühel's Hahnenkamm (AUT), Wengen's Lauberhorn (SUI), and Val-d'Isère's Criterium (FRA).

Two men have won the Saslong title four times in a career: Austrian Franz Klammer (1975, two races in 1976, and 1982) and Italy's Kristian Ghedina (1996, 1998, 1999, and 2001).

View of the northern side of the valley
The Stevia range above Val Gardena
Accidents like the one depicted were frequent among the farmers collecting timber in the woods during harsh winters in Val Gardena.
Woodcarving in Val Gardena. Around 1900 when carving of statues of Catholic saints was at its bloom.
Carved gallant genre scene in Swiss Pine with figurines from Val Gardena 18th century.