Lana
Lana is one of the largest and most populous municipalities in South Tyrol, nestled in the Merano basin, the heart of the Burggraf...
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Lana now
The story
The story of Lana
A major fruit-growing municipality in the Merano basin
Lana stretches across a wide territory in the Merano basin, an area of the Burggrafenamt enclosed by hills that slope down towards the Adige valley floor. The village, one of the most populous in South Tyrol, spreads between its historic core and numerous hamlets scattered among vineyards and orchards, in a sheltered position that has long favoured its agricultural vocation. Its proximity to Merano, reachable within minutes, makes Lana a convenient base for exploring the whole basin, while the village retains its own identity of squares, arcades and houses with the colourful façades typical of Tyrolean architecture. Walking through the centre, one can still feel the atmosphere of a village that lives on agriculture, craftsmanship and tourism, with shops, seasonal markets and venues offering the produce of the surrounding countryside.
The orchards and the capital of the South Tyrolean apple
The landscape around Lana is dominated by apple orchards, neat rows of trees that in spring are covered in white and pink blossom and in autumn yield one of the most abundant apple harvests in the whole of South Tyrol. Apple growing here is not just an economic activity but an integral part of the village's identity, often cited as one of the capitals of South Tyrolean apple farming. Wandering through the countryside, visitors encounter family-run farms, storage warehouses and direct-sale points where freshly picked apples can be bought. The mild climate of the Merano basin, combined with the temperature range and the abundance of water provided by streams and irrigation channels, creates ideal conditions for quality fruit growing, making Lana and the surrounding municipalities a recognised reference point for European apple production.
Monte San Vigilio (Vigiljoch): hiking and quiet nature
From the centre of Lana, a historic funicular climbs to Monte San Vigilio, the Vigiljoch, a scenic plateau with no roads open to cars, which makes it a particularly popular destination for those seeking peace and quiet immersed in nature. Once at altitude, visitors find themselves surrounded by coniferous woods and meadows that open onto sweeping views: the peaks of the Dolomites on one side, the summits of the Tessa mountain group on the other. The area is equipped with a network of hiking trails suited to different levels, walkable in every season, linking mountain huts, alpine pastures and small alpine lakes. The absence of vehicle traffic makes the Vigiljoch an ideal place for families with children too, and for anyone who simply wants to walk far from noise, breathing fresh mountain air just minutes from the valley floor.
Lana's Gothic altar and its artistic heritage
Lana's historic centre holds an artistic treasure of great importance in the parish church of Santa Maria: a Gothic altar entirely carved in wood, considered one of the largest and best preserved in the whole Alpine arc. The work, rich in carved figures and decorative details, testifies to the importance Lana already held in medieval times as a religious and economic centre of the Merano basin. Besides the altar, the village preserves other historical evidence in the buildings of its old core, among manor houses, arcades and small sacred buildings scattered across the hamlets. For those wishing to learn more about the area's agricultural history, the South Tyrolean Museum of Fruit Growing tells, through documents, tools and reconstructions, the evolution of apple cultivation, offering a complementary perspective on the orchard landscape seen while walking through the village.
Irrigation-channel paths, mild climate and the Merano surroundings
Around Lana a dense network of irrigation-channel paths, the so-called Waalwege, follows the course of the ancient channels once used to irrigate orchards and vineyards with water drawn from the surrounding mountains. Walking these almost flat, shaded paths is a peaceful way to discover the agricultural landscape of the basin, among dry-stone walls, small bridges and views of the mountains. The climate is among the mildest in the whole of South Tyrol, with short winters and warm but breezy summers, conditions that favour both fruit growing and hiking tourism in every season. Thanks to its proximity to Merano, famous for its historic promenades and thermal baths, Lana makes an ideal stop for anyone wishing to combine the discovery of an authentic farming village with a longer stay in the Merano basin, moving easily between the two centres.
Not to be missed
- Ride the historic funicular up to Monte San Vigilio (Vigiljoch) and walk the trails of the car-free plateau
- Admire the carved Gothic altar in the parish church of Santa Maria
- Visit the South Tyrolean Museum of Fruit Growing to learn the history of the local apple
- Stroll among the blossoming orchards or during the autumn harvest in the countryside around the village
- Walk one of the irrigation-channel paths (Waalwege) surrounding Lana, with views over the Merano basin
To see
What to see in Lana
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Lana
Jobs · JobFlow
