Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy Dec. 20, 2023

Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy

The Val Gardena valley in Northern Italy is renowned as a tourist destination for skiing, rock climbing, and woodcarving enthusiasts. Don"t let the model village appearance fool you, Val Gardena is a real, yet magical site in the Dolomites of South Tyrol that transforms into a place known as Christmas Valley during the festive season. Wooden huts open their doors to visitors, and a nostalgic cable car ride, each cabin adorned with twinkling fairy lights, travels above the Christmas Village. During the 18th century, the valley became famous for its production of statuettes and intricately carved wooden figurines, which were initially crafted to decorate Catholic churches. Amongst those creations, the peg wooden doll emerged as one of Val Gardena"s best-known products and is still being produced today.

© Ingus Kruklitis/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Reflecting on Christmas
Dec. 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Dec. 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany

More Desktop Wallpapers:

The animal kingdoms great migration
Oct. 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest, Minnesota, United States
City of ice
Celebrating women
Jan. 7, 2025Moeraki Boulders, South Island, New Zealand
Aug. 3, 2024Three Natural Bridges, Wulong National Park, China
Nov. 19, 2023Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
Aug. 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day
Man-made, meandering Lake Powell
Trusty water-shifters
May 11, 2024World Migratory Bird Day
The oldest way to fly
Sep. 22, 2023World Rhinoceros Day
Mar. 31, 2025Ostuni, Apulia, Italy
Oct. 22, 2023Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon
A triumphant pose
Mar. 25, 2026Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis Country, Alberta
Aug. 21, 2025Wheatear, Peak District National Park, England
As curious about you as you are about them
Oct. 29, 2024Great horned owl
Jun. 19, 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Rising with the sun
Apr. 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Nov. 16, 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
Rugged coasts and temperate rainforests
Say hello to these halophytes!
Dec. 11, 2024International Mountain Day
Oct. 14, 2024Fishing boats at Coco Beach in Goa, India
Mar. 5, 2025Khao Sok National Park in Thailand
Jun. 15, 2025Happy Fathers Day!