La Villa, a hamlet of the municipality of Badia located at 1,483 m a.s.l., is also called La Ila (in Ladin) or Stern (in German)
Image gallery: La Villa
This picturesque village is located in the heart of Alta Badia at the foot of the Gardenaccia and Piz La Ila Highlands. La Villa is famous due to the Gran Risa ski slope leading directly into the village centre, which every year is venue for skiing competitions of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. Thus every year in December the world's top ski athletes meet on the Gran Risa and the village becomes a lively centre. In summer, the "Maratona dles Dolomites" cycle race starts here.
However, the village is a perfect starting point for hikes in the spectacular world of the Dolomites, e.g. to the Rif. Incisa mountain hut, the Passo di Campolongo mountain pass and the famous Santa Croce (Holy Cross) Pilgrimage Site on the Armentara Meadows. Also trips in the surroundings, such as to the Val Gardena, Val di Fassa and Val Pusteria valleys or the locality of Cortina are popular. Furthermore you can keep fit on the two exercise tracks in Gran Ega and Gnates or experience a thrill by enjoying a bird's eye view of the Alta Badia during paragliding.
The historical part of the village consists of two venerable buildings. The Gothic Ćiastel Colz, an elegant square building featuring four turrets, has been mentioned for the first time in 1536 as Rubatsch. It is enthroned on a rock spur near La Villa. The church, however, dates back to 1516 and is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The German name of the village, Stern, originates from this sacred building dedicated to Maria ad Stellam (Stern means star in German).
