Santa Maria (1,388 m/4,554ft), the chief town in Val Müstair (pop. 350; Prot.), lies at the mouth of Val Muraunza, which runs down from the Umbrail pass. It has pretty painted houses, a church of 1491 and a local museum. Down the valley the view embraces the castles of Taufers and the Ötztal Alps, with the snow-capped peak of the Weisskugel
From Santa Maria a road goes off on right to Umbrail and Stelvio (Stilfserjoch) passes. The main road continues down Val Müstair, through Müstair village, into Upper Adige valley.