The 5 Best Things About the Stunning Südtirol Italy

Oh all the amazing things about the gorgeous Südtirol Italy!

It’s one of the most beautiful places on the planet, in my opinion.

Which is why I’m traveling to this destination as my first “I am fully vaccinated and I want to go to  Europe” trip.

I have had some serious wanderlust, dreamy thoughts over the past year and a half about this part of Italy.

Anyway…

Südtirol, called Alto Adige in Italian, is technically a province and part of the greater Trentino-Alto Adige region.

The province is actually officially called Bolzano, after the main town.

But you’ll commonly see it referred to as Alto Adige, Südtirol or South Tyrol. 

It’s all the same place. 

This particular part of Italy belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire prior to WWI. 

But when Italy switched from being on the Axis side to the Allies (which included the UK, France and the USA), it was awarded this bit of land. 

So it became part of Italy.

Südtirol is not very Italian.

It’s more Germanic.

Well, it’s Germanic/Austrian with a wee bit of Italian thrown in here and there.

You’ll definitely notice the Germanic influences in the architecture and the food. 

And you’ll see signs in German as well as hear the locals speaking German first.

There are also people in the area who are Ladin. 

This ethnic group has their own language and intriguing traditions.

So the Alto Adige province is quite unlike anywhere else in Italy.

What are the best things about Südtirol Italy?

And where the heck is it?

Let’s start with the where.

Where is Südtirol Italy?

If you look at a map, like the one below, you’ll see that it is the northern piece of the Trentino-Alto Adige region. 

It has a long border with Austria and borders a wee bit of Switzerland to the West.

Südtirol is the northernmost province of Italy and it is the second largest, with an area of 7400 square kilometers (2857 square miles).

It has a total population of 531,178. 

Interestingly, Alto Adige is the wealthiest province in Italy (as of 2016). 

Charming villages

There are lots of little towns and villages in Südtirol many of which sit nestled in mountain valleys surrounded by rugged peaks.

With their half-timbered houses and flower boxes spilling over with colorful flowers in the summer, you can’t help but smile as you wander through these quaint villages.

My all time favorite (so far) is Castelrotto or Kastelruth in German.

It’s just 20km northeast of the provincial capital of Bolzano/Bozen.

Castlerotto was my first town in Alto Adige.

And it wowed me — literally taking my breath away.

The location at the base of the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm is stunning with the Sciliar/Schlern looming over it and its neighbor village, Siusi allo Sciliar/Seiser am Schlern.

Castelrotto is beautiful with its church and bell tower at the center of the town. 

And the people are kind and helpful.

San Vigilio di Marebbe — in the shadows of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park — is another charming village in a gorgeous location.

There are some lovely guesthouses and hotels that serve delicious meals.

My favorite is Hotel Olympia which I’ll be going back to for my third visit this year.

I love Marco, his wife, Fabiana and their daughter, Camilla.

Corvara in Badia, Ortisei, San Candido, Vipiteno, Bressanone, Santa Magdalena, San Martino in Badia and Merano are a few others. 

But there is no shortage of picturesque towns and villages, many of which are surrounded by the Dolomite peaks.

Campo Tures/Sand in Taufers is a bit different as it lies almost on the border with Austria and is surrounded by the Zillertal Alps.

Castello Tures, the castle on the cliff, lords over this little town. 

It’s quite impressive. 

Campo Tures is definitely a town that doesn’t see a lot of English-speaking travelers so it’s a wonderful spot to get a bit off the main tourist track.

Mountains, mountains and more mountains

The absolute best thing about Südtirol is all the mountains.

Now we’re talking mostly about the Dolomites but the Zillertal Alps (mentioned above) are also mountains you’ll see.

If you love the mountains — and dramatic and rugged peaks at that — then Alto Adige is the place to be.

The Dolomites are made of limestone and are pale in color. 

Sometimes they even have a light pink hue to them.

They’re very unique and quite beautiful.

I love them 😍

The Zillertal Alps are found in Austria but spill over into that far northern part of Südtirol near Campo Tures.

These peaks remind me more of the Swiss Alps in color as they are the typical shades of grey.

They’re jagged and no less stunning than their Dolomite cousins.

I’m just partial to those pale pink-hued peaks.

You can ride a gondola up into these mountains for some spectacular views.

And there are loads of drives through the peaks, over mountain passes and through those charming villages mentioned above.

I highly recommend the Passo Gardena drive.

But really the best way to experience the mountains of the Alto Adige is to get out and hike in them or ski or snowboard on them.

Maybe tackle them on a mountain bike.

Become a part of the landscape and you’ll truly appreciate these amazing works of nature.

Picturesque valleys and meadows

With those mountains come some picturesque valleys and meadows.

The Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm is my favorite in Alto Adige. 

It’s breathtaking!

Val di Funes, Val Gardena, Val Badia, Valle Isarco, Valle Aurina, Val Venosta and the Val Pusteria are all valleys to check out. 

Sometimes these valleys contain those charming villages mentioned above.

And sometimes you’ll find cows grazing in them with houses dotted about and a lovely little church.

There are often trails for walking or biking or twisty roads wending through them.

In summer the valleys are often covered in a blanket of colorful wildflowers.

Or sometimes they are as green as anything I’ve seen in Ireland.

In winter these valleys are often under a blanket of snow and make wonderful spots for snowshoeing, sledding and cross country skiing.

So don’t miss those Südtirol valleys!

Food and wine

Two of the best things about Südtirol are the food and the wine

Let’s start with the food.

No, it’s not the typical Italian food you’ll eat in Tuscany.

And it’s not quite Germanic/Austrian food.

It’s often an interesting blend which is why it’s so good.

Speck is a special type of cured meat that you’ll see instead of prosciutto in dishes or added to soups to give it a special flair.

Dumplings and gnocchi are more common than pasta.

I’m really partial to these dishes.

Trout is popular in Südtirol as well — fresh from the streams and lakes — although you’ll still see pork, beef and venison.

Sometimes you will see the very German sauerkraut as a side dish.

And cheese and potatoes will make their way into many dishes. 

The cheeses here are delicious!

I find that it’s often the fruits grown in Alto Adige that put that unique twist on some typical Italian dishes. 

A risotto that has apples in the mix or a pork roast filled with apples and plum.

Desserts are often made with the above-mentioned apples, plums and pears — strudels, cakes and pies.

Yum!

Now the wines.

The wines of Südtirol are outstanding!

If you are a wine lover, you are going to be pleasantly surprised..

The white wines come from Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio (often seen as Grauburgunder or Rülander), Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau, Moscato Giallo, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner and Gewürztraminer (a grape actually indigenous to Alto Adige).

Kerner and Sylvaner are 2 white wines that I really like from Südtirol.

These 2 grapes produce fragrant wines with a nice minerality to them.

Schiava is the main red wine grape of the region although Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are grown along with another “weird Italian grape” called Lagrein. 

Schiava is a light wine low in tannins and it can be chilled a wee bit.

It’s delicious.

The Pinot Nero wines are also excellent.

My favorite might be the Lagrein wines.

Lagrein is almost purple in color and is considered a medium-bodied wine.

You’ll get mixed berries, spice and maybe even a bit of violet from this wine.

I have come to really love this wine.

So you see, lots of fabulous wine to go with all that tasty food!

Outdoor pursuits

If you are an active traveler then look no further than Südtirol.

This area of Italy is made for exploring.

In summer you can hike up mountains and through forests. 

You can walk along streams and around lakes.

Love to bike?

Whether you prefer the road or the trail you’ll find a route to suit your abilities and your need for being in the great outdoors.

There are plenty of lakes and streams to paddle on or cast a line in — just be sure you have the correct license for fishing.

If you’re a horse rider there are plenty of opportunities to ride some gorgeous trails.

And rock climbers will find an abundance of rock faces to scale.

There are even some golf courses in Südtirol for those who enjoy the links.

Winter is prime time for skiing and snowboarding down some beautiful slopes. 

There are a couple dozen different areas for skiing so find the one that fits your skill level.

Of course winter also means cross country skiing and snowshoeing if careening down a mountain is not your thing.

Or you can try ice skating on one of the outdoor rinks.

Alto Adige offers up lots of activities to help you burn off all the delicious food and wine — and it gives you time to thoroughly enjoy the gorgeous scenery.

My favorite things about Südtirol?

All of the above!

Seriously.

I love everything about this part of Italy.

Castelrotto/Kastelruth is my favorite village and the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm is my favorite valley.

I love to hike the trails.

Then come back to town and have a good meal and a nice glass of wine.

There are also some pretty onion-domed churches that are scattered about especially in the Kastelruth area.

They’re incredibly photographic as they seem to sit in a dazzling valley or up on a hill — just so.

And lastly, I will say the people are friendly and kind — and very proud of their home

I don’t blame them.

They have every right to be because Südtirol Italy is absolutely amazing!

Please note that Wander Your Way is not fully recommending international travel at this time due to the current global health situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although some countries are beginning to open, it is complicated.

If you do decide to travel internationally, please do your research or use a travel planning service such as Wander Your Way. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

I am continuing to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about places. And hopefully make that bucket list! This way when we can all fully travel again, you’ll be ready to go. For now, stay close to home and stay safe!

 

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