In South Tyrol there are many masi who are dedicated to natural medicine and who open their doors to the most curious tourists: one of these is located in Val Pusteria, in the hamlet of Lothen, San Lorenzo, Brunico and is the Moarleitnerhof (Lothen n ° 8, 39030 St. Lorenzen; tel. 0039 349 8435388; e-mail schaugarten@hotmail.it).
In an era in which drugs are often bought and used very lightly, so much so that advertising even recommends the family escort, there are those who, fortunately, continue to treat themselves with the old remedies of the grandmother and try to recover and spread , especially among the youngest, the knowledge of natural medicine, cultivating gardens of medicinal herbs and producing healing creams and herbal teas.
The farm is certainly an ideal destination also and above all for children who, in summer, will be able to experience the thrill of kneading, baking and eating black bread baked in the old stone oven, guided and followed by the loving experience and patience of the owner, Dorothea, an excellent cook who, upon reservation, will cheer the your palate with strudel, tirtlan and other typical culinary delicacies (for reservations and info see the tourist office of San Lorenzo).
Her husband, Gottfried Hochgruber, an expert herbalist, will guide you in one instead relaxing walk in their wonderful and immense garden to discover flowers and medicinal plants, explaining the benefits and properties of each of them and how, from simple petals or herbs, you can get herbal teas, creams, syrups and more! Of course there is the possibility of buy their products.
The Moarleitnerhof can be visited all year round: on winter evenings Gottfried will guide you on an exciting walk through the snowy forest by torchlight to welcome you and then warm you up with a good cup of mulled wine; I assure you that, if you happen to take this walk on a full moon night with the snow reflecting the light in a thousand silver reflections, it is an experience that you will not easily forget.
