Municipality of the Val Pusteria, in the province of Bolzano, Chienes (Kiens in German) located where the stream of Grünbach flows into the river Rienza, in the tourist area of Plan de Corones and is surrounded by the lakes of St. Sigismund and Casteldarne.
Mentioned for the first time in some documents, that date back to the first half of the XI century, with the name of "Kiena", the town has become a resort that offers peaceful and relaxing holidays, in which its visitors can combine the beauty of the natural landscape, with the pleasure of long walks in the "open air" along the mountain paths and, in Winter, practicing all Winter sports in the skiing area of Plan de Corones.
Not to miss:
- the Castle of Casteldarne, built, according to the traditions, in the late XII century by the family Ehrenburg, later known as Künigl. Enlarged and amended over the centuries, in the XVIII century it lost its original Renaissance appearance, in favor of a Baroque style. Inside the castle is preserved a painting by Franz Unterperger, while in the palace chapel, there is a fine artwork by an unknown XVI century artist;
- the XIX century Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul, with its beautiful paintings, is flanked by a XVI century Bell Tower;
- the Church of San Martino, whose walls are of Roman origins, while the arches, chancel and tower date back to the XV century;
- the Baroque Church of Maria Himmelfahrt, although the first construction dates back to 1370;
- the Church of St. Sigismund, one of the most beautiful architectural monuments in South Tyrol, was mentioned for the first time already in 1363, the present building, instead dates to the XV century. Interesting is the high altar with a triptych, which is one of the oldest in the whole area;
- the milestone of Casteldarne, discovered in 1928, dates back to the III century A.D. and measured the distance from Aguntum, a Roman city located near to the present town of Lienz.