South Tyrol in Summer. Why This Winter Resort It’s a Hidden Pearl
South Tyrol region, encapsulated on the north of Italy in between the Alpes mountains and valleys, it’s widely known for the skiing and winter sports.
The Dolomites region it’s also famous for mountain climbing, hiking, base jumping and free climbing.
A little about politics
To understand this beautiful region, you need to get a deep into the politics and history of the region. Today, the border region of Alto Adige or South Tyrol is the richest in Italy. Bolzano heads the ranking of the best city to live in the country. The per capita income of the province is three times greater than that of southern Italy.
Until the First World War, this region was part of Austria, but it was annexed to Italy by the fascists. After the Second World War, South Tyrol was the poorest province in Italy, but they showed a capacity for adaptation, taking the best of both worlds. A Sudtirolese is creative like Italian, but organized like a German.
It is a very autonomous territory with a highly developed system of self-government, together with a very favorable economic development system.
What to see in Bolzano
Bolzano is a famous tourist and commercial center, where the Italian-Mediterranean culture and the culture of Central Europe have lived together since ancient times.
Bolzano, in the past was a city of markets and merchants; nowadays it is a center of art, entertainment, culture, shopping where ancient architecture (like the castles) is perfectly linked to modern buildings and constructions, creating a harmonious and very interesting city to visit in Italy.
Geographically, the difference between the old and the new is delimited by the Talvera torrent: the old city of Bolzano is in the center, and the new city, on the other side of the stream, creating an illusory separation of the city of Bolzano.
Heading to the Dolomites Mountains
El Paso de Giau is a mountain pass, known for being a section of the Giro d’Italia cycling competition. At 2236m, the views and curves are guaranteed.
It is a fairly busy road because it links Cortina d’Ampezzo with Selva di Cadore and Colle Santa Lucia. Most of the vehicles that adventure this lands are motorcycles, and the merchants have adapted to it, offering discounts to them. It is like a paradise for motorcyclists and the truth is that it’s easy to understand why. The rise and fall of the port is pronounced, its curves closed like no other and the views are imposing.
Leaving behind Alleghe, the most beautiful village of the Dolomites, we head towards the Marmolada, the roof of the Dolomites. With its 3342 high, it is the mountain of this mountainous area, Patrimony of Humanity. Also from the top and down the slope extends the Marmolada Glacier.
The valleys and rivers that surround these lands were carved during thousands years of erosion related to the glacier and mountains of the Dolomites region.
Not only Ski
In winter here you can see Christmas markets, sports and skiing as main attraction. In Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Winter Olympics where hosted in 1956, and they will come back in 2026. It is one of the most frequented alpine ski resorts in Italy, but in summer there are also many excuses for Sightseeing in the Dolomites.
Sight seeing the mountain landscapes of the Dolomites illuminated by the summer sun could be enough, but there are also small towns like Bressanone, or Alleghe, beautiful villages and fairytale castles. But it also has “another face”: trekking, routes through the valleys by bicycle, visits to the lakes with the most turquoise water you will ever see…
Its wide valleys, with green meadow as far as the eye can see, followed by millions of pines that grow even in the most vertical parts to make way for the immense mountains. All these ingredients offer us beautiful and magical views. Be ready for some of the most magical pictures you will ever take.
The Dolomites are nature, they are mountain in its purest state: climbing, cableways, and meters and meters of snow even in summer.
If you are interested in reading about Italy and his lakes, don’t miss our travel guide to Iseo Lake and our travel guide to near cities.
