Val Gardena is an alpine valley in the Dolomites, in South Tyrol, Italy. Due to its prevailing Ladin identity, the valley is considered an integral part of Ladinia and is crowned by the mountain ranges defined as the Dolomites of Gardena. It is crossed by the stream Gardena (Derjon / Grödnerbach), 25 km long.
It is divided into three municipalities: Ortisei (Urtijëi / St. Ulrich), Santa Cristina Valgardena (S. Cristina Gherdëina or S. Crestina Gherdëina / St. Ulrich). Christina in Gröden) and Selva di Val Gardena (Sëlva / Wolkenstein in Gröden), as well as, on the orographic left of the Rio Gardena, near Ortisei, of three hamlets of the municipality of Castelrotto (Ciastel / Kastelruth) called Oltretorrente (Sureghes / Überwasser), Roncadizza (Runcadic / Runggaditsch) Bulla (Bula / Pufels) and Alpe di Siusi (Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm).
The native population of this valley is Ladin-speaking (about 85-90% of the population). The valley is officially trilingual, and all names are in Italian, Ladin and German.
