Guncina Promenade

One of the most beautiful promenades and at the same time the oldest one starts at the Piazza Gries square: the Guncina Promenade. It was created in 1892, when Gries was one of the most important health resorts of the Habsburg Empire south of the Alps. A path should start at the pump room (Wandelhalle) and create an authentic Mediterranean feeling.

The Guncina Promenade (Guntschna-Promenade, in German) was dedicated to Archduke Heinrich Anton of Austria and therefore called "Erzherzog-Heinrich-Promenade". It leads in serpentines up the slope past cacti and other plants which adore the sunny slopes of the Guncina Hill. Magnolias, Japanese hemp palms, holm oaks and cork trees, agaves, yuccas and other southern plants grow here. Several benches, however, invite to take a rest and to enjoy the fabulous view on the quarter of Gries and above the roofs of the town.

The Guncina Promenade starts at the Old Parish Church of Gries and leads first to the pump room and then uphill towards the road to San Genesio and the former Hotel Reichrieglerhof. Afterwards, the path leads down to the Rio Fago brook and back to the starting point. You can alternatively take the public bus which passes every hour at the Via Cologna road.

Note: Up to the road to San Genesio the walk is comfortably viable even with a stroller. Starting from here, two short sections with steps must be taken into account.