If you’re planning to spend your holidays in Trentino-Alto Adige, there are some activities I absolutely must recommend.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit South Tyrol several times and I’ve truly fallen in love with its landscapes and its green, unspoilt nature. One of the places I liked most in this region is the beautiful San Candido, set in the greenery a stone’s throw from Austria, along with the town of Merano.
But this land really has so much to offer.
Here’s my experience and 7 things to do in Trentino-Alto Adige that I absolutely recommend.
Fancy discovering them with me?
Off we go!
1 – A mountain-bike excursion
South Tyrol is one of the best areas in Italy if you love spending your holidays in the saddle of a mountain bike. There are cycle paths across the whole region, well organised and very well kept, with clear signs and asphalt in excellent condition.
If you don’t feel up to cycling the 40 km between San Candido and Lienz as I did, there are much shorter routes too: you can even visit many towns of Trentino-Alto Adige simply by pedalling from one to the other.
I imagine you’ll have had some doubts at the thought of spending your holidays pedalling up and down the mountains, but the advantages are many: you’ll enjoy landscapes you’d never discover by car or train, you’ll breathe wonderful air and you won’t feel guilty about all the delights you’ll taste up here. And if you love unspoilt nature, a tour of the Dolomites and Lago di Braies will take you into the heart of breathtaking scenery.
2 – Discovering the alpine lakes
I’ve never been a great lover of lakes: as a certified diver, I’ve always preferred the sea, where visibility is better. I didn’t think a lake could be so striking, until I arrived (by bike!) at Lake Braies.
Lake Braies is a genuine corner of paradise enclosed among the mountains: the water is crystal clear and the walk around it is relaxing and evocative. It’s no coincidence that it’s been chosen as a set for several films and TV series. I was enchanted by the still mirror of water reflecting the surrounding peaks.
But Lake Braies isn’t the only one to discover in South Tyrol: I also recommend Lake Dobbiaco, Lake Misurina and, a little further away, Lake Resia.
Why Lake Resia in particular?
Because where it now lies there was once a small village (Curon), submerged when the dam was built in the mid-20th century. All that remains is the bell tower of the old church, still rising from the middle of the lake. A sensational sight in every season, which left me with a deep melancholy.
3 – The nature park of Dobbiaco
Zoos have always made me deeply sad: as a child I couldn’t understand why all those animals had to be shut in narrow cages.
So why am I recommending a wildlife park in South Tyrol?
Simple: the nature park of Dobbiaco (in the area tied to the memory of the composer Gustav Mahler, who spent his summers here) is completely different from any city zoo. There are only native animals of this area, free to roam the whole park: it’s a bit like a walking safari in a nature reserve.
Here I had one of the loveliest encounters of my life: besides goats, sheep and squirrels, I managed to get close to a beautiful fallow deer which, after a good half hour, trusted me and ate from my hand. Even the shyest animals become bold when food is involved!
4 – Discovering the villages’ treasures
Are you thinking of spending summer in South Tyrol but afraid of getting bored?
Know that every little village has its treasure: in San Candido you’ll find a splendid Romanesque church, in Dobbiaco a very particular Baroque, in Lienz and Brunico beautiful medieval castles.
There isn’t a single centre among these mountains without some gem to discover!
5 – Walking in the mountains
Of course you can’t go to the Alps without a mountain walk. The views from the peaks are enchanting, and to come back down you’ll have several options: walking will seem the most ordinary!
On some routes you can in fact dash down to the valley on a fun bob, a sort of sledge on rails that’s great fun. I tried it for the first time at San Candido and can’t wait to do it again. There are also plenty of equipped trails for trekking, as well as cable cars and horse rides.
The choice is yours!
6 – The cuisine
If the previous points haven’t convinced you, this might be the decisive one. Without dwelling on praise for the speck and local cheeses, here’s a very short guide to what you can taste:
- Tirtlan: little stuffed fritters with cheese, or ricotta and spinach. To be eaten while still hot!
- Krapfen: sweets of leavened, fried dough, filled with jam or chocolate. Perfect for breakfast.
- Schlutzkrapfen: little ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach. Exceptional!
- Canederli (Knödel): bread dumplings with speck and cheese, usually served in broth. Perhaps the region’s most famous typical dish.
- Strudel and cakes: on the border with Austria there’s no shortage of Austrian sweets, like Sachertorte and excellent apple strudel.
Seeing is believing!
7 – Relaxing in the mountains
Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, San Candido, the animals, the mountains, the castles… if all this hasn’t yet convinced you to spend the summer in South Tyrol, think of the fact that up here among the mountains you can finally relax without suffering the city heat.
There are waterfalls, lakes and pools where you can cool off, a real paradise even for those who aren’t mountain lovers: you can shop, sunbathe, pamper yourself in the many spas, take walks without climbing too much, and discover rural life and local traditions.
And you, are you drawn more to the mirror of Lake Braies or to a table laden with canederli and strudel?
