The most northerly village in Italy is situated in deepest Tauferer Ahrntal valley: Prettau with the hamlet of Kasern. You need some time to get used to the temperatures, as the municipality of Prettau lies between 1,325 and 3,499 metres above sea level. Those looking to escape the summer heat in the towns will really enjoy going on hikes in the Zillertal Alps and the Hohe Tauern park. 

The position of Prettau does not just make for pleasant temperatures in summer, but also guarantees snow in winter, meaning that snow shoe walkers are spoilt for choice in Rieserferner Nature Park. Anyone staying in a holiday flat or room in Prettau will appreciate these options as well as the fresh mountain air. A visit to Prettau mountain mine is a must. In this show mine, visitors can find out about copper mining and miners' work under ground, while increasing numbers of people visit the climactic tunnel, or 'Klimastollen', to alleviate respiratory problems in the pollen-free air.

Cool climate, resourceful women
Necessity is the mother of invention. When the copper mine in Prettau closed in 1893 after 500 years, around forty families lost their source of income. The village vicar at the time gave the women the idea of turning 'Klöppeln', or lace making, into a breadwinning idea. With the financial support of the aristocratic mine owner, three talented women were sent to Vienna in order to learn the artistic technique of producing lace. A year later, the lace making school in Prettau opened, where young lace makers were trained and passed on their knowledge to the older women and sometimes to the men. Ahrntal valley lace was soon in demand both home and abroad and the lace makers often worked 17 hours a day. Their wages were low in comparison, and lace was often exchanged for food. In the First World War, South Tyrol was separated from its supplier of raw materials, Böhmen. Lace making was taken up again in the 1930s, with the yarn coming from Milan. This artistic lace is still used in blouses for traditional costume, chasubles and Christmas tree decorations today, amongst other things. The women of Prettau are still proud of their skills and may be watched at work during demonstrations in 'Haus Prettau' or in the visitors' centre in Kasern.

The 'Tauernträger' 
The Klockerkarkopf in the Zillertal Alps in the municipality of Prettau is the most northerly point in Italy. Once upon a time, you could hire gloves, mountain boots and coats to cross the border to Austria at a guesthouse in Kasern. The clothes were then given back to a guesthouse on the other side of the pass and could be used on the way back. Lots of locals earned a living carrying goods in baskets on their backs to Austria. They were known as 'Tauernträger'.