Madonna di Campiglio

This is a an elegant village placed at 1550 metres above the sea level in the beautiful bowl called Rendena Valley surrounded by the Brenta Dolomites massif, by the Adamello glacier and by the Presanella peaks.

The Brenta Massif

Todays Campiglio surely is one of the most important ski resorts of the whole Alpine arch representing the ideal place for those who love sports, nature and the fashionable society.

Madonna di Campiglio at night

During the IXX century, in fact, this village was the most favorite place of the Austrian and Central European nobility and rich middle class. Even the princess Sissi and the Francesco Giuseppe emperor came here for their holidays. However, still now many important Italian and international personalities arrive in this village to spend their vacations.

Staying in Campiglio you will find 90 km of available ski slopes divided according different difficulty levels: todays this ski area is made up by 57 ski lifts. Moreover it is connected to the widest ski resort of Marilleva and Folgarida for an amount of 140 km of slopes.

The Madonna di Campiglio ski slopes

In Park Grostè there are the snowboard slopes, while for cross-country skiing lovers there are four rings made up by 15 km of different circuits: the Test slope (0,5 km), the Baby slope (2 km), the Sprint slope (5 km), and the World Cup slope (7,5 km). All these circuits are placed in the Campo Carlo Magno Pass.

A cross-country ski slope in Madonna di Campiglio

If you are ski goers you should buy a unique skipass that will allow you to use all the ski lifts belonging to the “Funivia Madonna di Campiglio S.p.A.” company whose prices change according to the different seasons of the year and according the age of the skier.

In Campiglio there also are many esteemed skiing,  mountaineering, ice climbing and sled dogging schools. More precisely the skiing schools are eight made up by 150 teachers  that can also make you learn other interesting sports like the snowboarding and the carving.

A snowboard slope in Madonna di Campiglio

All the high mountains surrounding this nice village are very accessible thanks to the presence of a series of paths that will lead you to the mountain dews placed at the top of these Dolomites peaks.

All around Madonna di Campiglio you can admire several lakes, little valleys and streams belonging to the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park where you will find 450 km of mountain paths surrounded by woods of fir trees and of larches. To discover this wonderful nature you can go mountain biking or you can walk around by foot.

A stream in the wood

In winter you can also admire these beautiful Dolomites landscapes wearing particular snowshoes called “ciaspole”, touring on horse-drawn sleds or riding horses through specific paths. The most reckless tourists can also practice the Alpine ski and the ice climbing. 

During summertime you can do other activities like tennis, swimming pool, mountain biking, horse riding, rafting , paradigling, sport climbing and trekking. During this season, walking all around the Adamello-Brenta park, you will be surrounded by enchanting places full of colored flowers and of delicious fruits of the forest.

Through the local cablecars you can reach the typical agricultural construction called “stazzi” or the local chalet called “malghe” or “masi”  to appreciate the traditional hospitality of the mountains inhabitants. 

A chalet surrounded by nature

For those who love playing golf there is the Campo Carlo Magno golf club surrounded by the Brenta Dolomites.

This village small urban centre is modern and full of hotels, cafés, restaurants and discos. Here you should visit the Church of Santa Maria Antica built in 1895: in this religious building there is a precious XV century triptych and a XII century crucifix.

The Church of Santa Maria Antica

Another monument that deserves your attention is the Church of San Virgilio characterized by a big medieval bell tower. The peculiarity of this monument is the “Danza Macabra” (Macabre Dance) painted in 1539 on the southern external side of this church. This work is made up by 40 figures characterized by different colors and accompanied by Latin quotations.

The Church of San Virgilio

Walking around this urban centre you will find many shops selling wooden handcrafted objects, chocolate desserts, artistic decorated furniture and stoves and papier-mâché jewels and creations.

The Campiglio urban centre

Gastronomy

Some typical local products are cold cuts (especially the garlic based ones), cheeses (like which one called “Spressa”) , polenta (the Italian cornemal porridge), mushrooms and game.

Campiglio typical products

As a dessert you can choose among carrots, ricotta cheese and fregoloti cakes or among different kinds of chocolate, the apple strudel, and the fruits of the forest tarts.

The fregoloti cake

Events

Today Madonna di Campiglio also is the seat of important events that attract many tourists every year. One of the most famous one among them is the “WROOM Week”: this event usually takes place in the month of February when the Ferrari grand prix pilots are engaged in many happenings.

The “WROOM Week” in Campiglio

Another important event is connected to the 3-TRE ski slope (this name means “3 competitions in the Trentino“) that is the scenario of the Alpine World Cup Slalom racings.

A very important cultural and touristic event is the “Carnevale Asburgico” or “Campiglio Asburgica”(“The House of Hapsburg Carnival”): during this feast there are parades in costume that recall the period belonging to the House of Hapsburg, conferences and cultural meetings focus on that precise historical period. 

The “Carnevale Asburgico”

The next 27th edition of the “Carnevale Asburgico” will take place in the month of February 2010.

Every year Campiglio is also the scenario of the “Winter Marathon“: this a classic sport cars racings. 

The "Winter Marathon"

During the month of December there is the famous Christmas Event of Parallel Giant Slalom.

How to arrive in Madonna di Campiglio

By Car:

From Trento or from the MODENA-BRENNERO highway: after having went through the A22 of the Brennero until the Rovereto Sud exit, go on through the free way SS45bis unitl Sarche, then go through the free way SS239 until Madonna di Campiglio (km 73).

Coming from the same highway you can also choose other two exits:

- Trento Centro exit: after this exit you should cross the villages of Sarche, Tione, Pinzolo until Madonna di Campiglio (73 km from the motorway tool-booth).

- S. Michele all’Adige exit: after this exit you should cross the villages of Mezzolombardo, Cles, Dimaro until Madonna di Campiglio.

From Milan: go through the A1 highway until the Brescia Est exit, then go on through the free way SS45bis following the road signs for Madonna di Campiglio (226 km).

By Bus:

Many daily bus lines connect Madonna di Campiglio to Malè, Bolzano, Trento (with the SIA Company), and to Milan and Brescia (with the Società Trentino Trasporti company).

By Train:

Travelling by train you should arrive to the railway station of Trento or to which one of Brescia and then you should reach Madonna di Campiglio by bus.

By Plain:

The “Catullo” airport in Verona Villafranca and the new airport in Bolzano are the nearest airport to Madonna di Campiglio.

There also are efficient bus lines available from the airports of Milan, Venice, Verona, Bergamo, Brescia and of Bolzano and from the railway station of Trento.

…Enjoy your stay in Madonna di Campiglio!

Canazei and its valley

This is the most important Val di Fassa tourist village being also part of the ski area called “Carosello Sella Ronda” that it the biggest one in the Alpine arch connecting the nearest Dolomites valleys and the neighboring villages of  Selva di Val Gardena, Corvara in Badia, and  Arabba that are all easily reachable from Canazei.

The Dolomites surrounding Canazei

This village offers you many wonderful landscapes together with several sport buildings, 78 ski slopes, and many sky lifts like 9 aerial lifts, 51 platter lifts, 2 funitels and 29 chairlifts. Canazei is in fact a big winter centre made up by four easily reachable ski areas called Belvedere, Ciampac, Col Rodella and Marmolada that are also associated with the widest Dolomiti Superski area, so all the ski lifts can be used having a unique ski pass.

The Canazei ski slopes

This interchange allows tourists to have fun crossing 1.100 km of ski slopes connected by more or less 400 modern and efficient ski lifts.

A chairlift in Canazei

There also is the striking path called “Sellaronda, Giro dei quattro passi” made up by a lot of ski slopes that surround the Sella Massif crossing the four valleys called Fassa, Gardena, Badia and Livinallongo that will lead you to other ski areas of the Alto-Adige region. Practically you can experience new slopes every day.

In the near village of Pozza di Fassa there also is a ski slope provided with a nightly lighting. In the Canazei urban centre there is the Ciampac funitel that will bring you to the ski area called Ciampac-Buffaure allowing you to arrive in Pozza di Fassa wearing your skis.

The 50 cross-country ski slopes are constantly cured being also part of the famous “Marcialonga” path. Also on the Ciampac and on the Pian Trevisan ski resort there are some slopes for this particular sport.

One of the most loved activities is the Alpine skiing: many competitions are organized in Val di Fassa and particularly in Canazei. The most important challenge is which one called “Sellaronda Skimarathon” that takes place in February on the “Quattro Passi” path during the night.

The Sellaronda Skimarathon

You can also do excursions wearing particular snowshoes called “ciaspole” to discover the uncontaminated nature of the surrounding woods. For the most romantic tourists there also is the possibility of doing relaxing tours on a sleigh drawn by horses. Another option is to do funny snowmobile races.

Touring on a horses drawn sleigh

Staying in Canazei in fact you can practice many winter sports: in the covered ice stadium of Alba, a neighboring small village,  you can ice skate thanks to the presence of a well equipped hire centre and of professional teachers. This also is the official stadium of the Hockey S.H.C. Fassa Levoni team and so, for this reason, here you can also watch many sport events.

Thanks to all this elements, many international tourists arrive every year in Canazei being attracted by very modern sport buildings ideal for any kind of activities including rock climbing and paragliding.

The rock climbing in Canazei

The paragliding in Canazei

After having skied, you can eat some delicious typical dishes made up by game and polenta (the Italian cornmeal porridge) in one of the several restaurants of this village. Then you can finish your day spending the night in one of the local night clubs.

A polenta pan on the snow

During springtime the most appreciated sport is the ski touring and during summertime you can go for a walk by foot or by bike discovering all the Dolomites natural marvels.  From Canazei you can arrive at the bottom of the Marmolada massif or you can reach fascinating panoramic passes like the Passo Sella and the Passo Pordoi.

Canazei during summertime

A path for summer walk

Other two places that deserve your attention near Canazei are the beautiful Fedaia artificial lake and the Avisio river bank.

The Fedaia artificial lake

The Avisio river bank

Canazei offers you also many cultural features: in the local architecture you can still note the Ladini influence. The inhabitants do all their best to preserve their cultural origins that are still alive in their popular habits, in their country dances and in the local exhibitions and theatrical shows.

A typical Canazei house

Events

All year long many events occur in Canazei:  in winter, for example, there is the famous nightly alpine ski racing called “Sellaronda Skimarathon” while in summer there is the spectacular “Dolomites Skyrace” that is the important race belonging to the World Skyrunning  Championship. Other two important summer events are:

- “Te anter i tobie” that literally means “Among the barns” because during this event all the ancient barns are open and all the artisans start working like they did many years ago in order to show to tourists all the old crafts that are about to disappear.

- The other very characteristic event is which one called “Festa d’Ista” that literally means “Summer feast”:  all inhabitants wear the traditional dresses in a colorful folkloristic parade.

The “Festa d'Ista” folkloristic parade

How to arrive in Canazei

By Car

Coming from the A22 Highway of the Brennero you can arrive to the Egna-Ora exit or to the Bolzano nord exit.

From the Egna-Ora exit you should go on through the freeway SS48 of the Dolomites towards Cavalese and then go on towards Canazei and the Val di Fassa crossing the San Lugano Pass.

From the Bolzano nord exit you should go on towards the Val d’Ega and the Costalunga Pass through the free way SS241. After the this Pass you will arrive in the Vigo di Fassa village.

Coming from the A27 Mestre-Belluno Highway you should arrive until the Belluno exit and then you should go on towards Agordino, Cencenighe and towards the San Pellegrino Pass through the free way SS203.

By Bus:

There are daily direct buses that will lead you in Canazei leaving from the Trento (Atesina), Ora (Sad) and Bolzano (Sad) railway station.

During the high season there also are direct buses that leave from the main Italian cities like Milan, Florence, Venice and Parma.

By Train:

The nearest international railway stations are which one of Bolzano and Trento; there also is the smaller Ora-Auer railway station.

By Plain:

Travelling by plain you can arrive in one of these airports:

The Airport of Bolzano (50 km far from Canazei)
The Airport of Innsbruck (190 km far from Canazei)
The Airport of Milan (350 km far from Canazei)
The Airport of Monaco di Baviera (320 km far from Canazei)
The Airport of Venice (177 km far from Canazei)
The Airport  of Verona (180 km far from Canazei)

…Enjoy your stay in Canazei!

Cortina d'Ampezzo

The pink peaks during the sunset

Cortina d’Ampezzo is one of the most famous Alpine destination in the world and this fact is testified by its presence in the “Best of the Alps” association that unifies the most exclusive mountain locations of five different Alpine nations. Together with Cortina there are some very famous villages like Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Davos, Garmisch- Partenkirchen, Grindelwald, Kitzbühel, Lech Zürs am Arlberg, Megève, St. Anton am Arlberg, St. Moritz, Seefeld and Zermatt.

Cortina is not only very appreciated by the Italian economical, political and cultural elite but it also is an Olympic city and a real symbol of  fashion.

For those who love skiing the Ski World Cortina offers 120km of all kinds of ski slopes where you can also do snowboarding (in a recent Snowpark), cross-country skiing, Nordic skiing, extreme skiing and downhill skiing. The resorts where you can ski are Tofane, Falzarego, Cristallo, Passo Giau e Mietres-Pierosà: here there are a great number of ski slopes characterized by different difficulty levels, more precisely the 33% of these slopes are blue, the 62% of them are red and the 5% are black. You can moreover use 52 different ski lifts like 6 aerial lifts, 30 chairlifts, 10 platter lifts that can transport 59.000 people every hour. 

The Cortina chairlifts

All the ski-goers can choose among two types of Skipass: which one called “Skipass di Valle” (Valley Skipass) that is just valid for the skiing area made up by Cortina, San Vito, Auronzo and Misurina; or which one called “Dolomiti SuperSki” valid for 12 valleys like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa/Carezza, Arabba-Marmolada, Alta Pusteria, Val di Fiemme/Obereggen, San Martino di Castrozza/Passo Rolle, Valle Isarco, Tre Valli and Civetta for an amount of 1.220 km of ski slopes.

A Cortina ski slope

However you can also do many other activities like: excursions with snowshoes or “Ciaspole”, telemark skiing, ice skating, sledding and Bob sledding. With the professional staff of the Cortina Adrenaline Center you can experience the taxi-bob, the snow rafting, the crazy sledge and the Moon Light Sledge. During this nightly activity it is also possible to look at the stars in the Astronomic observatory of the Col Drusciè.

The snow rafting

Another possible activity you can do is the Snowkite that is now the trendiest and most funny sport in Cortina:  you will have fun getting in touch with nature. The Kite4freedom association is there to offer you individual or group lessons to start practise this new attractive sport. Every year in Cortina there also is the Cortina Snowkite Contest dedicated to international athletes coming from different countries of the world.

The Snowkite

In the Cortina Olympic Ice Stadium you can watch many sport competitions even if here you can also ice skate, play hockey or curling that is one of the most loved sports in the Dolomites: during the month of June, in fact, in Cortina there is the Cortina International Summer Trophy dedicated to this particular sport.

A curling competition in the Cortina Olympic Ice Stadium

Even in springtime and in summertime  the Cortina woods and peaks are the ideal place to practice any kind of sport: you can in fact do trekking, nordic walking or go mountain biking thanks to the presence of 42 paths where you can also find 8 vie ferrate and 6 equipped green areas. There also is the unique possibility of visit three historical paths: two of them cross the territory where the I World War took place and the third one will lead you in a special place characterized by the presence of some fascinating dinosaurs footprints made 220 million years ago.

Cortina during summertime

For those who love great experiences the Cortina Adrenaline Center offers wheel-bob ridings on the Olympic Bobsled track, rafting trips, hydrospeed trips, canyoning trips, and kayak trips in the valley’s torrents.

Obviously you can also do more traditional sports like tennis, horseback riding and fishing.

In summertime you can also go for a walk to see wonderful landscapes especially in the Falzarego-Lagazuoi area. In this wide territory there also are two regional parks that are the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti d’Ampezzo (D’Ampezzo Dolomites Natural Park) and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies parks.

The Lagazuoi area

Finally you can find in Cortina one of the most beautiful and attractive golf fields of the whole Alpine territory.

The Cortina urban centre is characterized by its main street called Corso Italia where you can find many fashionable and elegant shops.

Corso Italia

Visiting this village you can also see the Church of San Filippo and Giacomo built in 1775. Inside this religious construction there are some sculptures by Andrea Brustolon and some paintings by Francesco A. Zeiler, Giuseppe Zanchi, Luigi Gillarduzzi and by Giuseppe Ghedina. Its tower was built later between 1851 and 1858 being visible in Cortina from different points.

The Church of San Filippo and Giacomo

The Tower of the Church

Another place that deserve your attention is the “Ciasa de ra Regoles” where there are important museums like the palaeontologist one, the ethnographic one and the Mario Rimoldi Modern Art Collection made up by 400 works made by great Italian artists during the XX century. The “Ciasa de ra Regoles” is an ancient association that gathers all the original Cortina d’Ampezzo families called “Regolieri” who tried to apply an harmonic and respectful relationship between nature and men. They created 11 norms for their community in order to promote the well-being and the survival of Cortina itself.

The “Ciasa de ra Regoles”

Art and culture have always characterized Cortina that has always attracted artists from all over the world. During the high season in the different local galleries you can watch many exhibitions and very often writers come here to introduce their new works.

Another interesting place is the Open-Air Museum on the Piccolo Lagazuoi: during the I World War the Lagazuoi hill was contested by the Italian and the Austro-Hungarian armies and now it is an extraordinary historic heritage made up by trenches, galleries and warehouses placed in one of the most panoramic path of the Dolomites.

The Open-Air Museum on the Piccolo Lagazuoi

Other frequent events are: chorus festivals, jazz nightly concerts, photographic exhibitions and performances of sculptors on wood. 

Finally the Cortina nightlife offers you many different possibilities of having fun thanks to the presence of a great quantity of cafés, restaurants and discos.

Gastronomy

The two most famous local first courses surely are the Canederli (the Italian variety of the Tyrol knödel) and the Casunziei ( ravioli filled with beetroots or potatoes and dressed with melted butter and poppy seeds). Other first courses are the Polenta (the Italian cornmeal porridge), the rice with peas called “rise e bise”, fava beans or barley soups, the Goulasch süppe that is a Hungarian typical dish made up by spicy meats.

The Goulasch Süppe

As a second course you can choose among the mushrooms braised beef, spare ribs and a great variety of delicious cold cuts.

Cold cuts and Polenta

As a dessert you can choose among the applestrudel, the fartaies, the ricotta cheese cupcake, and finally there are typical Austrian desserts like the krapfen and the sacher torte.

The Fartaies

Events

All year long in Cortina there are important sport, cultural and gastronomical events like:

Women’s World Cup Skiing Standings: downhill women’s race, Super G race and giant slalom race – January

Gran Fondo Dobbiaco: International cross-country ski race of 42 km from Dobbiaco to Cortina – February

Cortina-Dobbiaco: International mountain bike race of 42 km – July

Coppa d’Oro Delle Dolomiti (Dolomites Golden Cup): International historic cars racing  – September

Cortina Winter Polo on Snow: International competition of Polo on Snow – February – Misurina Lake

Men’s and Women’s World Cup of Bob – December and January – “Eugenio Monti” Bobsled track

Alpine Skiing World Cup Women – January – Olimpia delle Tofane skiing slope.

“Dalla terra al cielo” (“From sky to the ground”) from the 11th of July 2009 to the 5th of January 2010: this is a festival dedicated to astronomy and made up by meetings, nightly events and gastronomical happenings.

New Year’s Eve in Square – 31 December 2009 – Cortina

How to arrive in Cortina

By Car

Coming from South you can reach Cortina going through the A27 highway from Mestre until the end of the highway itself. At this point go on through the 51 d’Alemagna free way, once you have reached Tai di Cadore go on towards Cortina. Leaving from Mestre this trip will last more or less two hours.

From North you shoulg go through the A22 of the Brennero until the Bressanone exit. At this point you should go on towards Dobbiaco. From Bressanone your trip will last more or less one hour.

In Cortina you can drive your car but you can also use the several public transports that will bring you to the different ski lifts and to the most attractive tourist places.

By Train

Coming from South the main railway line is which one that connects Venezia S. Lucia to Calalzo di Cadore that is 35 km far from Cortina reachable thanks to a bus service that leaves from the Calalzo railway station. This trip from Venice to Cortina (train plus bus) lasts more or less 3,5 hours.

Coming from North the main railway line is which one that connects Zurich to Innsbruck and which one that connects Dobbiamo to Fortezza and from this last village you can catch the bus. Leaving from Innsbruck you can catch every hour a train that will bring you to Cortina in 4 hours.

By Bus

The shuttle service of the Venice and Mestre railway station is efficiently connected to the trains towards and from Milan. This trip lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The shuttle service of the Bologna railway station is efficiently connected to the trains towards and from Florence, Rome and Naples and to the Adriatic line ( Rimini – Ancona – Pescara – Bari). This trip lasts more or less 4 hours.

The ATVO S.p.A. offers a bus service from Venice, Mestre and Treviso to Cortina and to the main Dolomites cities like Tai di Cadore and San Vito di Cadore. Reservation is obligatory and you will do it just purchasing the ticket that is sold by the ATVO ticket office and by the authorized agency. A one way ticket from Venice or Mestre costs 11 €.

By Plain

For those who arrive by plain there are functional bus services that leave from the Venice airport arriving to Cortina.

…Enjoy your stay in Cortina!

Corvara Landscape

Corvara is placed in the Italian region called Trentino-Alto Adige in the Bolzano province. The neighbouring villages are: Badia, Selva di Val Gardena, San Martino in Badia, Canazei and Livinallongo del Col di Lana.

Here you can admire a wonderful landscape made up by the Marmolada and the Gruppo del Sella massif, by the Austrian peaks and by the Puez dolomites very appreciated by excursionists and mountaineers.

Ski Slopes

The most important local sport surely is the downhill race that can be done all winter long thanks to the presence of 52 ski lifts that connect 130 km of ski slopes.

The Corvara ski lift

The Corvara Ski Slopes

Coming from Corvara you can arrive to the famous skiing area called Dolomiti Superski that offers you many different wonderful tourist routes characterized by 450 ski lifts and 1220 Km of ski slopes.

The Dolomiti Superski area

If you don’t like skiing you can go for a walk on the fresh snow using the “ciaspole” (snowshoes) making nightly excursions or you can romantically ride on a chariot drawn by horses. Another option is to ice-skating in the Corsara covered stadium where you can also dance during amusing nightly “disco ice” parties.

The Ciaspole

Going for a walk on "Ciaspole"

In the Colfosco zone you can find cross-country skiing slopes and one half-pipe slope for snowboarding.

From the cultural-historical point of view,  Corvara offers several attractions: in this XIII century mountain village, for example, you can admire the Gothic Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria that dates back to the XV century. Inside this religious construction there is a XIII century painting, a little wooden altar created during the XVI century and one very ancient fresco representing Santa Caterina d’Alessandria by Ruprecht Potsch.

The Santa Caterina d’Alessandria Gothic Church

Other interesting things to see are the church of Santa Croce, placed near the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, and a permanent exhibition in the Raimond Mussner atelier where you can admire watercolours and bronze sculptures representing the local landscape.

The Church of Santa Croce

From the linguistic point of view, Corvara is one of the 18 municipalities that still preserves the “ladina” language spoken by the 90% of the population together with the Italian language and the German one.

Gastronomy

Staying in this nice village you can go for a walk among all the small local shops that sell typical gastronomical products and wooden handcrafted objects. You can taste the most traditional local dishes in the several Corvara cafés, pubs and restaurants that will offer you the typical canederli or knödel together with the famous local cheeses and cold cuts like the speck ham. You should taste the “kaiserschmarren“: a typical local dessert made up by an omelette with red blueberries.

The Kaiserschmarren

If you would like to spend a nice night there are the thematic parties organized by the several local mountain dews reachable by snowmobile. The dinner will be made up by typical dishes and then you will come back to the valley accompaigned by skiing instructors making an amusing torchlight procession.

A Corvara mountain dew

The torchlight procession

If you would like to relax there also are many spas that offer particular treatment based on the peasant local culture like the hay bath well-known for its healing properties ideal to cure rheumatism and to make your skin more tonic and softer.

The hay bath

Families with children can visit the Paraciora Deers Park (Parco dei cervi Paraciora) placed between La Villa and Pedraces: here you can see free deers, roes, donkeys, ponies and little goats. During your stay you can also visit the typical local residences called “Masi” where you can taste traditional products recalling the original agricultural and rural life of these zones.

The residences called "Masi"

In summer it is possible to do excursions or to go mountain biking through the several woods and fields paths arriving to famous Dolomites passes. You can also fish, play tennis, climb rocks or you can even do horse riding tours and excursions.

One of the most appreciated sports is golf thanks to the presence of the Golf Club Alta Badia that is just few kilometres far from the Corvara urban centre.

The Golf Club Alta Badia

How to arrive in Corvara

By Car

A22 Brennero highway until the Varna-Bressanone exit, then go on through the SS49 Val Pusteria (Brunico) main road until the San Lorenzo crossroads. Take the SS244 Val Badia main road and after 33 km you will be in Corvara.

A22 Brennero highway until the Chiusa exit, then go on through the SS242 main road: you will drive through Val Gardena, Passo Gardena, Colfosco until Corvara.

From both these two exits it will take more or less 70-80 minutes to arrive in Corvara.

Mestre-Belluno A27 highway until the Belluno exit, then go on through the SS51 main road towards Cortina d’Ampezzo, Passo Falzarego and Valparola. Once arrived in San Cassiano go on entering in La Villa and at the crossroads you will find the road sign for Corvara.

Mestre-Belluno A27 highway until the Ponte nelle Alpi exit, then go on through the SS203 Agordino main road. Drive through Arabba and Passo Campolongo until Corvara.

From both these two exits it will take more or less 90-100 minutes to arrive in Corvara.

Coming from Belluno go through the 1 provincial main road until Ponte nelle Alpi, at this point take the 51 main road until the Castello Lavazzo exit, then take the 51 bis main road until the Vodo di Cadore exit and, once arrived in the Pierosa zone , take the 48 main road until the Andraz exit goin on through the 244 main road towards Corvara.

Coming from Venice and Treviso go through the A27 highway towards Belluno until the Pian di Vedova exit. At this point take the 51 main road until the Pierosa exit, then the 48 main road until the Andraz exit and finally take the 244 main road to reach Corvara.

Coming from Padova go through the A4 highway until the Marco Polo Airport exit, then take the A27 highway until the Pian di Vedova exit. At this point go on following the road signs towards Corvara.
Coming from Vicenza go through the A4 highway until the Verona Nord exit. Once here take the A22 highway until the Bolzano Nord exit, then go through the 12 main road until the Ponte Gardena/Waidbruck exit. At this point take the 242 main road until the Ortisei exit and finally go through the 243 main road until Corvara.

Coming from San Candido and Dobbiago go through the 49 main road until the San Lorenzo di Sebato exit going on through the 244 main road to reach the whole Alta Badia territory.

From Brunico go through the 242 main road to reach all the Alta Badia villages from Corvara to Colfosco.

By Plain

The closest airports are:

The Bolzano Dolomiti Airport that is 100 Km far from the Alta Badia;

The Verona Villafranca Airport that is 250 Km far from the Alta Badia;

The Venice Airport that is 200 Km far from the Alta Badia;
 
The Innsbruck Airport (Austria) that is 150 Km far from the Alta Badia.

From March to December there is a shuttle service leaving from the Bergamo, Brescia and Treviso airports.

By Train

The closest railway stations are:

The Brunico railway station – 38 Km far from the Val Badia;

The Bressanone railway station – 70 Km far from the Val Badia;

The Bolzano railway stations (via Passo Gardena) – 72 Km far from the Val Badia;

The Bolzano railway stations (via Brunico) – 100 Km far from the Val Badia.

Some buses leave all the day long from the Bolzano and Brunico railway stations to arrive in Alta Badia.

During winter there isn’t the direct service Bolzano – Corsara and so it is better to arrive in the Brunico railway station. 

…Enjoy your stay in Corvara!

The Italian Dolomites

The geological peculiarity of these mountains is due to the union of two different typologies of rocks: the volcanic one and the dolomites one. The history of the mountaineering itself has been written on these legendary summits from the IXX century until today. 

The Dolomites are made up by 15 different mountainous massifs: each one of them reaches 3000 metres altitude even if the Marmolada peaks reach an height of 3.343 metres. All these massifs are separated by rivers, valleys and passes. The most important rivers are the Isarco, the Adige, the Rienza, the Piave, the Avisio and the Cordevole.

A Dolomites river

Which one called Brenta is the unique massif placed in the western part of the Adige river: it has an oval shape that is slightly separated from the rest of the Dolomites.

The Brenta mountains are placed between the two valleys called Rendeva and Meledrio, between the Val di Sole and the Val di Non. You find them in the southern part of the Dolomites because they are exclusively part of the Trentino territory. Their spires, eroded by atmospheric agents, change their colour throughout the day offering to tourists very striking landscapes. Many international visitors are also attracted by the Brenta plateaus and by its alpine lakes like which one called Molveno that is the biggest one in this territory. Here you can visit many important tourist cities like Madonna di Campiglio,  Folgarida and the Raganella Plateau where you can do many winter sports.

The Brenta mountains

The most important Dolomites mountains are:

The Marmolada (3.342 metres altitude)
The Antelao (3.263 metres altitude)
The Monte Civetta (3.220 metres altitude)
The Sassolungo (3.181 metres altitude)
The Monte Pelmo (3.169 metres altitude)
The Latemar (2.814 metres altitude)

The most important Dolomites valleys are:

Conca Ampezzana
Val Gardena
Val Badia
Val di Fassa
Valle del Primiero
Val Zoldana
Val di Fiemme
Val Fiorentina
Cadore

A Dolomites valley

These valleys are characterized by green pastures and woods, by imposing rocky faces that during the sunset become pink and red explaining in this way the reason why they are also romantically called “Pale Mountains”.

The Dolomites during the sunset

From the Val Badia to the Val di Fiemme, from the Val Gardena to the Ampezzano, everyone of you can find the ideal place for an unforgettable holiday: this is a perfect solution both for families that just want to relax and for mountaineers who want to win their own limits.

In the Alta Badia, at the bottom of the Sassongher massif, you can visit Corvara that can be defined the most beautiful city in this valley. Corvara is part of the Bolzano Autonomous Province.

The most important Dolomites lakes are:

The Alleghe  lake of Misurina

The Alleghe lake

The Dobbiamo lake

The Braies lake

The Landro lake

The Auronzo lake

The Pieve di Cadore lake

The Fedaia lake

The S.Croce lake

The Braies lake

Dolomites Fauna

Wandering through the Dolomites paths it is easy to see many prairie dogs. It isn’t difficult also to meet roes and deers.

Reaching the highest picks you can also see chamois and ibexes; it is fortunately very difficult to meet one of the rare brown bears that live in this territory.

However in the Dolomites nature you can also find weasels, martens, hares and squirrels. Watching the sky you can see partridges, golden eagles, raves and carrion-crows. In the wood you can find woodpeckers, owls, capercaillies and burrowing owls and a big variety of coloured butterflies. Rivers are finally full of delicious trouts.

Ibexes on the Dolomites

Dolomites Vegetation

The Dolomites woods are the biggest and richest ones in Europe. Here you can admire cembra pines, mugo pines, red firs, larches, sylvester pines, black pines, beech trees, birches, willows together with other trees types like the golden chain and the maple.

During the flowering season you can see all the colours of the 50 different species of orchids, of the fields beautiful flowers, of the several soft fruits, of the edelweiss and of the other lonely rocks flowers. There also are endemic peculiar Dolomites species:  in the Alpe di Siusi plateau, for example, there are many medicinal herbs and every kinds of mushrooms.

The Dolomites edelweiss

Typical drinks

Having a rest in one of the many local mountain dews you can taste several types of fruits and herbs grappa or hot drinks like the Jagertee (tea with rum), the Bombardino and like the Calimero. Which one called Bombardino is a hot drink made up by egg liqueur, brandy or rum adding whipped cream and some cacao powder. The Calimero is made up by egg liqueur, coffee and whipped cream.

The Bombardino

Typical food

The most typical dishes are the polenta (the typical Italian cornmeal porridge) with mushrooms, game meat, the canederli or knödel, the spätzli (little dumplings), the pastin, the casunziei (filled ravioli) and the famous apple strudel.

The Casunziei

In winter the Dolomites become an unique, wide ski area called Dolomiti Superski: 12 ski zones (belonging to 12 valleys), 450 ski lifts, 1200 km of ski slopes. Everything is accessible through an unique skipass.

A Dolomiti ski slope

The most important cities of this ski area are: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val Gardena – Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa – Carezza, Arabba – Marmolada, Alta Pusteria, Val di Fiemme – Obereggen, San Martino di Castrozza – Passo Rolle, Valle Isarco, Tre Valli, Civetta.

You can even follow 16 thematic Skitours like which one called Sellaronda (the complete tour of the Gruppo del Sella massif) or like the Big War Skitour that will lead you in all those places where the World War I took place. Finally, you can also visit all the Dolomites natural parks.

How to arrive in the Dolomites

Those who come from extra-European countries can arrive in the two main international airports of Milan and Monaco (Germany).You can also decide to arrive in the Venice airport. Finally there also are two small regional airports placed in Innsbruk (Austria) and in Verona. 

Travelling by car the trip from these airports to the Dolomites cities will last more than 4 hours coming from Milan, more than 3 hours coming from Monaco, more than 2 hours coming from Innsbruk , Verona, and Venice.

Train and bus services are very functional especially during the high season.

…Enjoy your stay in the Dolomites!

Bolzano has been constructed in a dell characterized by many vineyards. Its mild climate panders to palms, agaves, cypress and olive trees to grow up wonderfully. This typically Mediterranean vegetation contrasts with this city’s background characterized by the Dolomites tops often covered by snow.

Landscape from Bolzano

Nowadays Bolzano is a very charming city that offers really many attractions to tourists, starting from its historical Medieval centre that was constructed during the XII and the XIII century.
Visiting this city you can admire its architecture characterized by Nordic and Mediterranean elements and the Belle Epoque atmosphere of the Walther Square that represents the urban centre of this city. Here you can admire the monument dedicated to the most important German poet Walther Von Der Vogelweide.

Walther Square

In this square you can find the imposing Gothic Dome (XIV-XV century) with its unique polychrome roof, its Romanic main door, its rose window, its fresco of the “Madonna col bambino” (Madonna with Child)(1475) and which one of the “Crocifissione” (The Crucifixion) that dates back to the end of the XIV century. Inside the Dome you can admire the Gothic pulpit, the monumental main altar made up by polychrome marble (1710-20), the ancient Crucifix, and the Baroque Cappella Delle Grazie with frescos by Karl Henrici (1771).

Bolzano Gothic Dome

Near the Dome there is the Gothic Chiesa Dei Domenicani (Dominicans Church) and its cloisters. In both these two constructions you can find beautiful frescos date that bake to the XIV and the XV century.

In Piazza Delle Erbe (Delle Erbe Square) there is a spirited and coloured fruit and vegetable market. At the corner with Via dei Portici (dei Portici Street) there is the Fontana del Nettuno (1745) called Gabelwirt (innkeeper with fork).  In front of this fountain there is also the ex Albergo del Sole that hosted Goethe, Herder and the Emperor  Jospeh II.

Via dei Portici

Going through Via dei Francescani (dei Francescani Street) you can visit the Gothic Church of Franciscan that hedges in a precious wooden altar by Hans Klocker (XVI century). The cloisters of this church is ornamented with beautiful frescos.

Via Bottai is the most typical street of the historical centre thanks to its ancient wrought iron signs, its inns and artisan workshops. At the and of this street there is the Museum of the Natural Science of the Alto Adige.

Via Bottai

Via dei Portici is the most famous street in Bolzano and it has an important commercial function. Here you can admire beautiful porticos that dates back to the XV-XVIII century, the Baroque Palazzo Mercantile (Mercantile Palace) , the ancient chemist “alla Madonna” considered a little museum of oils, dyeings, essences, ointments, and of herbal teas and the Cooperative of the Atesini Artisans. Another very ancient place is Piazza del Grano: in this square there was the market of the grain and here there is also the picturesque Casa della Pesa (XVII century).

The XVII century palaces of the local bourgeoisie can be admired in the square and street Della Mostra: Palazzo Campofranco, Palazzo Menz, Palazzo Pock.
Visiting the Civic Museum you can have a overview on the archaeological history, the ethnography and the local art of Bolzano.

In the ex climatic station of Gries there is the Abbey of Benedectine, the Church of Sant’Agostino, the Vecchia Parrocchiale of Gries that hedges in two important artistic treasures:  the altar by Michael Pacher (1471-75) and the Romanic wooden Crucifix that dates back to the XIII century.

Other important monuments are: the Monastery of the Teutonic Order (XVI-XIX century), the Church of San Giorgio (XV century) and the little Church of San Giovanni in Villa built during the XII century and characterized by precious frescos.
So it is evident that all the museums, castles and the unique fusion between the Mediterranean and the Central European culture make Bolzano a very original place in Italy. The Gothic style of the ancient churches frescos, the plasticity of the works by Pacher, the religious silence that characterizes the room of the “Otzi” (the 4300 years old mummy preserved in the local Archaeological Museum), the cycle of profane frescos of the Castle Roncolo and that of the Renaissance ones of the Castle Mareccio are some of the things you can’t miss once in Bolzano.

Castel Mareccio

The deep green of gardens and vineyards together with the cableways that will rapidly bring you to the top of mountains in a wonderful alpine atmosphere, give to this city both an agriculture and a mountain character.

Staying in Bolzano you can not only admire the local nature, culture and art but you can also taste the typical dishes like the knödel with speck and the prestigious local wines: among them, for example, there are the native Lagrein and Santa Maddalena.

From the end of November to the 23th of December you can also visit the fascinating traditional Bolzano Christmas markets.

Road Connections
A22 Brennero – Modena, exit Bolzano Sud or Bolzano Nord
Motorway (Strada statale) SS 12 (from Trento to Brennero)
Motorway (Strada statale) SS 38 (from Passo Resia)
Motorway MeBo Bolzano – Merano.

Railway connections

Line Verona-Brennero. From Milan it will take three or four hours to arrive in Bolzano. The railway station of Bolzano is placed exactly at the centre of the city. The train represents the best solution to arrive there.

Aerial Connections

In the Southern part of Bolzano there is a little airport conncted to Rome. You can get more information using this number: 0471 255255.

…Enjoy your stay in Bolzano!