Hotel Gasthof Stern is located in Nova Ponente (Deutschnofen), an idyllic Alpine village near Bolzano in the heart of South Tyrol. Situated at 1,350 metres above sea level, it’s home to around 4,000 residents and serves as the main hub of the Eggental holiday region. Despite “Valley” being in the name, Nova Ponente Bolzano actually sits atop the Reggelberg plateau—an expansive, sunlit landscape of meadows and forests framed by the mighty peaks of the Dolomites.
If you find narrow mountain valleys a little too confining, you’ll love the sense of openness here. The views stretch across the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites, with iconic peaks like Schlern, Latemar, and the Rosengarten group close by. And on clear days, you can spot the glistening glaciers of the Ortler group and the striking summits of the Ötztal and Zillertal Alps further out on the horizon.
While the surrounding landscape provides breathtaking Alpine drama, the village of Nova Ponente, Italy offers tranquility and authenticity. From the terrace of the Hotel Gasthof Stern, you overlook the village square and experience daily life first-hand—whether it’s local events, traditional parades, or festive days when villagers attend church in South Tyrolean costume.
Just a short hike away lies one of South Tyrol’s most significant pilgrimage sites: the Maria Weißenstein monastery. Built in the 16th century after a Marian apparition to a local farmer, the church and monastery are now richly adorned with votive plaques and steeped in centuries of devotion. The site—visited by Pope John Paul II in 1988—can be reached from Nova Ponente on a peaceful half-day walk through meadows and woodlands.
