St. Pauls: Village Character, Churches and Wine Tradition

St. Pauls combines historic village character with religious architecture, archaeological finds and events celebrating wine and regional cuisine. If you are choosing a destination based on cultural interests, you will find a range of highlights here: lanes and churches, evidence of the Bronze Age and Roman times, and seasonal events in summer and during Advent. The time of year you travel can therefore influence your choice of hotel. The Wine Culture Weeks take place every summer; the Nativity Scene Christmas event adds an Advent highlight. Before booking, check the specific dates of any events you would like to include in your trip.

Churches and historic village character

In the centre of St. Pauls stands the parish church of the Conversion of St. Paul, often called the “Cathedral in the Countryside.” Its interior is designed as a late Gothic hall church with three naves. The three naves describe the layout of the interior; “late Gothic” places the architecture in a particular period. A guided tour of the parish church is organised once a week as part of the weekly programme. Before your trip, check whether it is available on your dates.

The parish church is home to the “Anna-Maria” bell: it measures over 1.8 metres in diameter and weighs a good 3.8 tonnes.

The historic village centre is characterised by traditional house façades, winding oriel windows and picturesque lanes. The cemetery in St. Pauls has round-arched arcades with Tuscan columns. The Church of St. Justina in the hamlet of Aich has a carved altar and stands among the fertile vineyards above the rise of St. Pauls. The two churches thus have different local connections: the parish church stands in the centre, while St. Justina is associated with Aich and its vineyard setting. The carved altar is a distinctive art-historical feature in its own right.

Archaeological traces from different periods

An extensive Bronze Age settlement was discovered at the former Gamberoni nursery in San Paolo. In the hamlet of Aich, above the village centre of St. Pauls, the remains of a Roman villa were found, including an almost completely preserved, colourful floor mosaic. Together with the late Gothic parish church, these provide different historical reference points: the Bronze Age, Roman times and the Late Gothic period. The archaeological finds and the church architecture thus complement one another as evidence of different periods.

Wine, regional cuisine and Advent

The Wine Culture Weeks take place every summer in St. Pauls and offer fine wines and regional specialities. The “Gastronomic Table” is a culinary experience during the event weeks, featuring dishes by five chefs under the direction of Herbert Hintner. At Knödel Evening, the South Tyrolean women farmers of St. Pauls serve traditional homemade South Tyrolean dumpling specialities made with regional ingredients. The programme offers different culinary highlights: one event centres on the dining experience and its team of chefs, while the other focuses on dumpling specialities and regional ingredients.

During the Nativity Scene Christmas event, the lanes of St. Pauls become an exhibition featuring around 100 nativity scenes in various forms and styles, displayed in the historic houses of the village centre. The choice between a summer and an Advent trip is therefore clear: wine and regional cuisine on the one hand, and the nativity scene exhibition on the other. Check the specific event dates before your trip; for the “Gastronomic Table,” also check whether advance booking is required.

Discover more destinations: Villa Lagarina, Tassullo, Pressano, Lagolo, Comano Terme, Ronzo-Chienis, Pellizzano, Pera

For the main travel overview: Trentino.