Gries

The hamlet includes a few houses and the so-called tobié, that is, historic wooden barns of which only four have survived to this day. The area is crossed by the Rio Soracrepa and has experienced urbanisation during the last years. According to legends, the village was hit by a huge landslide which left only one masonry house standing, destroying all the wooden buildings. Both in 1860 and 1912, the village was hit by fires and rebuilt in traditional style.

The two small hamlets of Mortic and Soracrepa disappeared in 1900 following some floods and landslides. The name of the village is probably of German origin and derives from the word 'Griess' which means "coarse-grained sand". The term refers to the terrain of the area which is made of stones, dust and sand. The inhabitants are known as 'Botaces' (from the Italian word 'botticelle' which means 'barrels') because of their century-long expertise in the construction of barrels used for the fermentation of sauerkraut. Gries is the birthplace of Francesco Carlo Dantone, also known as 'Franz Pascalìn' who was the first photographer of the Fassa valley and the first one to immortalise the stunning beauty of the Dolomites. He went above and beyond for his community by organising and training the fire brigades of Canazei, Gries, Alba and Penia. The ancient road leading to his home was named after him.

Two monuments worth mentioning are the two churches of the hamlet. The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus church (Chiesa del Sacro Cuore di Gesù) was built starting from 1935 in traditional local style and embellished with Gothic elements. It was consecrated by the archbishop Alessandro Maria Gottardi in 1967 and houses several frescoes and sculptures by local artists, as well as a wooden altar which perfectly embodies the artisanal tradition of the area. The Madonna delle Nevi church is consecrated to Our Lady of the Snows, a venerated figure in the alpine areas in the 17th century. The monument was built in 1570 in Baroque style and rebuilt several times during the century. However, the external part of the building still preserves the original Baroque style.

Gries is a perfect destination if you are looking for a relaxing holiday in nature. The village of Canazei, the administrative centre of the eponymous municipality, and the nearby skiing areas are easily accessible.