Wooden statue of Sissi angel conductorWooden statue of Sissi angel conductor. Crafted entirely by hand in Val Gardena, this splendid statue comes from the Alpine territory of Alto Adige, positioned at the northernmost part of the Italian peninsula, bordering Austria. Woodcarving has been a flourishing art in Val Gardena since the 17th century. Starting in the 19th century, this region achieved worldwide fame for its exports of artisanal statues and altars to Catholic Churches.