We spent few lovely hours in Spania Dolina, this little picturesque village is situated 11 km north of Banska Bystrica, not far from Stare Hory, on the borderline of the Low Tatras and the Great Fatra, at an altitude of 728 m above sea level. It is an ancient copper mining village rich with a history dominated by the original early Gothic Church with a covered wooden staircase with 162 wooden stairs. Copper from Spania Dolina was on Christopher Columbus ships – painter Sandro Botticelli used the green pigment derived from the local copper to decorate ships. There are also some mountain tracks perfect for cross-country skiing in winter or mountain bikes in summer. It’s also a good starting point for hiking. Parking 1 EUR / day. There is no option for good food, but still, you can get simple soups, Fried Cheese or Fried pork (both with French Fries).
Parking location – Spania Dolina: 48.807366N 19.133804E (🚻)