Südtirol and Dolomites

Alto Adige – Südtirol is a German-speaking province where food is more similar to Austrian food than to Italian. Smoked speck is a specialty here. And don't forget the mountains; there is always something to do in winter and summer.

In Bolzano – Bozen in German, a city where Italian and German cultures seamlessly blend, between the many architectural sites, we recommend beginning with a "lesser" work, yet one which has a tremendous symbolic interest: the Porta del Vino (the "Wine Gate") inside Bolzano's gothic Cathedral, artistically engraved with images of peasants at work between the vines.

It has an homage to wine, produced with excellent results here – justanothere reason for this region's appeal. The Dominican Church, with its 14th-century fresco on the "Triumph of Death" in clear Giotto style, is not to be missed. Finally, Merano is a pretty and top-rated tourist center with ancient porticoes and a suggestive historical center.

It is a guide to the Italian mountain province of Südtirol. It describes its provincial capital city of Bolzano with its surroundings of San Genesio, Sarentino Valley, Ritten, Rosengarten, Carezza Lake, and Steinegg, as well as the Pusteria and Venosta valleys, including Merano and its surroundings of Senales Valley, Passeir Valley, Naturns, Lagundo, Schwemmalm, Vigiljoch, Ulten Valley and Naturns. It also includes the Seiseralm - Alpe di Siusi, with Kestelruth, Fie allo Scillar, the Alta Badia Valley, and the Val Gardena with Santa Cristina, Selva, and Ortisei.  

The guide includes extensive descriptions and photos of the localities covered.

The guide includes a section on Südtirol food and recipes.