Maybe it’s because of the mountains that stand out against the sky with their tops covered in snow that stroke the clouds’ folds. Or maybe its because of the valleys that open as corollas at the foot of the proud and magnificent mountains. Or maybe it’s the appeal of lakes, with the Northern branch of Garda that gives the surfing enthusiasts a constant wind.
Maybe this is one of the reasons that make Trentino a very charming region, a perfect combination of nature, sport and literature without forgetting the well-being, food and wine and the architecture.
The main town is Trento, plunged in a landscape that offers, at a short ride, wonderful rock climbing walls, ski trails, wellness routes and amazing views. A welcoming region, too, protagonist in the years between 1545 and 1563, when Trento hosted the Catholic Reformation Conference. The journey in Trentino also includes a visit to Madonna di Campiglio, so beautiful to be chosen as the summer residence of the Asburgic royal family and where you can still experience the “royal” atmosphere” during the carnival period. And then let’s go to Val Rendena, with its white paradise of Pinzolo and its amazing views from the Brenta Dolomites. In the Giudicarie valley there is the Adamello-Brenta National Park, where thousands of animal species, flowers and plants live undisturbed while a “terrace with a view” on the Adige valley is the Paganella upland, a concentration of forests and then the Sun Valley that features the green areas as its best landmark: the Stelvio Natural Park, the glaciers of Tonale and the thermal baths of Pejo, without forgetting the amazing villages of Marilleva and Folgarida.
The Dolomiti with the capital “D” can also be found in San Martino di Castrozza and Fiera di Primiero, two places rich in traditions where the Dolomites show all their beauty with San Martino peaks. The Fassa and Fiemme Valleys are a concentration of natural beauties; from the untouched water sources to the forests reach in plants and animals. Then the Valsugana, the Piné upland and the Cembra valley are jewels of nature with their lakes, the ideal places to relax. Levico is famous for its baths – or for its sports activities: Levico, Caldonazzo, Serraia and Piazze.
In the Vallagarina, Rovereto and its Mart, the museum of contemporary art stands out, while the Folgaria, Lavarone and Lucerna uplands appear as a frame of huge outdoor spaces, coloured Alpine huts and sunny mountain pastures. And finally the Non Valley, the “valley of apples” – among the very famous Italian DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) products that reach the tables of the whole Europe – and the valley of castles.
Alto Adige, with its historical and cultural peculiarity has gone through centuries and has “recently” entered our borders: in fact the annexation of this region by Italy goes back to 1919. In this territory there is a continual succession of valleys, mountains, a lot of mountains, all high, everywhere: 40% of its surface is more than 2.000 metres high, 46% between 1.000 and 2.000 metres.
But Alto Adige doesn’t only mean high peaks: just consider the plane where Merano is located where the “most Northern” European palms grow thanks to the natural barrier that protects the town from the wind and enables at the same time the coming of hot air from the South.
Bolzano is set in the green areas of the region – surrounded by three hundred hectares of vineyards its urban plan is a mix of old and new with a medieval historical centre that stretches along a number of narrow and winding streets that feature beautiful arcades, Renaissance views, wrought iron signs and walls with frescos. The town’s sitting-room is Walthersquare – from the name of the greatest German Medieval poet Walther von der Vogelveide - where the late-Gothic cathedral stands out with a roof made of black, green and ochre tiles and a bell tower that looks like an embroidery of stones. “In the square” people stroll around for the shopping or happy hour in the clubs that surround the square and taste – from Spring to Autumn – the pleasure of live background music: the music tradition of Bolzano is famous. You can’t miss the Dominican church – that belongs to a monastery dating back 1272 -, piazza Erbe with its daily market that is a combination of perfumes and tastes and also the arcades where you can see the Italian arcades on the left and the German ones on the right. The museums are very interesting, headed by the archaeological one and its star Ötzi, the shepherd that was found in the glaciers between Val Senales and Austria that dates back to 5000 years ago.
Merano is thirty kilometres from Bolzano: elegant, aristocratic, smart. Crossed by the river Passirio, the town attracts because of its contradictions. Alpine landscapes and Mediterranean vegetation stay together, “urban chic” life-styles and old rural customs in the surroundings. Then, speck and spaghetti, a combination that matches the wonderful local wine. The heritage of Merano is made of art, nature, culture, sport and wellness: in the XIXth century, at the beginning of its rise, Merano was very popular among the European kings and queens because of its climate and its thermal waters and also for a long list of receptions. Nowadays the old Merano is reinforcing its natural trend a being the perfect place for wellness and elegant leisure activities.
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