Ortisei, the capital of the Val Gardena is situated at an altitude of roughly 1200 meters, at the feet of the Siusi Alps, below the woods of Rasciesa. There is a lively historic center, but Ortisei also offers the visitor relaxation in the quiet districts of San Giacomo and Bulla. Ortisei is a modern town which also represents the traditional heart of the ladina culture: in fact ladina is the mother tongue of roughly eighty percent of the population. Ortisei is known principally as an ideal destination for winter tourism with ski slopes which are easily reached thanks to a number of cableways. Two of these in particular, connect tourists with the Altopiano of Siusi and Seceda, also suitable for those who do not wish to ski. A walk along the old tracks of the Chiusa-Val Gardena railway line which links Ortisei with Santa Cristina Val Gardena is captivating. For those interested in the traditions of the area, as well as the ladina culture, Ortisei has a number of craft shops linked to an age old tradition of wood sculpture.