Discovering our world: Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Hello my dear readers,

Monday we have discovered the apples and today is time to travel a little bit, let’s discover Trentino Alto Adige, the home of apples in Italy.

There is a region, in Italy, located precisely on the border with Austria and Switzerland, among the best known for the beauty of its mountains, but not only.
Trentino Alto Adige is also nature, summer and winter sports, hiking and trekking, art and culture, the mountain massifs, with their glaciers that seem to sparkle in the sun, dominate this region. From here abundant waters descend that have dug the territory and have transformed these areas into true wonders of nature. The panorama includes coniferous forests, majestic peaks, valleys, rivers and streams, lakes, fantastic play of light among the peaks of the Dolomites. The region is also known for its picturesque mountain villages, set in unspoilt and timeless nature.
Winter sports enthusiasts also know Trentino for the immense ski area consisting of hundreds of kilometers of modern and well-equipped slopes, which welcome thousands of tourists every season.

Trentino Alto Adige is a small corner of beauty and magic present on the Italian territory, which manages to enchant all tourists who choose it as a destination for their stay.

The first stop is the regional capital, Trento, a city of architecture and art, where there are numerous museums and where the spectacle offered by nature is gorgeous. Around the year 1000 the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire created the episcopal principality of Trento and this gave the city a strong religious identity.

A must visit is the Piazza del Duomo of San Virgilio, built in Romanesque style and the site of the formal sessions of the Council of Trent. A visit to the Castello del Buonconsiglio, which was the residence of the bishops of Trento from the 13th to the end of the 18th century, is another must.

Bolzano occupies an area that has always been considered the border between Italy and the Germanic world, and for this reason it is often nicknamed “Gate of the Dolomites”. Its summers are precocious and lasting and that’s why the city offers lots of ideas for outdoor activities.
At the historic center you can admire Piazza Walther, Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Vittoria, Via dei Portici, the Chiesa dei Francescani, the Duomo dedicated to S. Maria Assunta.

Bolzano is very popular especially in Christmas time, for its colorful markets where you can find many gift ideas and delicious food. Are the most beautiful Christmas markets in Italy.

Visiting the historic Bressanone will transport you to a dreamlike and fairy tale world, allowing you to live in a city with more than a thousand years of history. Elegant and delicate, it rises in the Isarco Valley and offers you the chance to admire its imposing Duomo, made in Baroque style, very fascinating. You will be enchanted by its two twin bell towers, built in the same style and dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and San Cassiano, which dominate the city from above. Bressanone offers you the joy of spending a holiday between art and culture in this little corner of paradise nestled in the mountains.

Merano has been considered a health resort since the early nineteenth century, due to its healthy and mild climate. In 1933, radon-containing water was discovered and transformed from a health resort into a spa town. In 2005 the new spas were also inaugurated.

The historic center is made up of narrow streets, perfect for a walk that will take you to the romantic Via dei Portici. The Parish Church of San Nicola includes a bell tower 83 meters high, it is one of the highest in Alto Adige and, at the same time, the symbol of the city.

Trentino was the scene of fierce fighting at the time of the First World War and retains many memories. Remains of numerous paths made at the time of the Great War are still there today. Do not miss the seven fortresses on the Altipiani di Folgaria, Lavarone and Luserna, the trenches and fortifications in Vallagarina and on the Pasubio, but also in Tonale sector, in Riva del Garda, in Valsugana.

History and culture but also uncontaminated nature are the characteristics that make Trentino Alto Adige one of the most fascinating and appreciated regions of Italy.

Lake Carezza, located in the province of Bolzano, more precisely in Val d’Ega, is a treasure of rare beauty and one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites. Once you arrive at the place, you will be struck by its crystal clear waters which reflect the Latemar massif. An aquatic mirror that at times will seem magical thanks to its suddenly changing colors, from turquoise to blue to emerald green, creating a veritable corner of paradise.

The typical postcard landscape can be admired on the Alpe di Siusi, a scenic plateau located in Alto Adige. Here you can lose your gaze on an area full of pastures, dotted with typical wooden houses, offering you the chance to admire the characteristic alpine landscape. To dominate over all, some imposing Dolomite peaks, in particular the Scillar massif, the Sella Group and the Marmolada. A dream that you can live concretely by going to this plateau that is part of the municipality of Selva di Val Gardena.

A visit to the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, proclaimed in 2005 “the most beautiful garden in Italy” means making a botanical journey through the world. In fact, over 80 botanical environments are present, including plants originating from every corner of the world.

The narrow streets and the small squares of the historic center give the city a purely Venetian atmosphere. Rovereto offers tourists many sites of history, art, music and culture. For years the East West Festival has been held here, an internationally known event dedicated to theater and contemporary dance, as well as the Mozart Festival which pays tribute to the composer’s memory every year.

Puez-Odle Natural Park is a park that includes the area around the Odle group and is located at an average altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level. The park offers the visitor a unique natural spectacle: all types of rock can be observed, tectonic upheavals and the most characteristic erosion phenomena. The conformation of the territory, the altitude and the microclimate determine the type and variety of the flora present, while the fauna includes chamois, deer, royal owls and pheasants, crows and numerous species of insects and butterflies.

Trentino is a real paradise for those who practice winter sports! Most of the Trentino landscape is dominated by the Dolomites, which constitute a unique environment recognized by UNESCO as a Natural Heritage Site.
There are 800 kilometers of slopes and also numerous snow parks, ski areas more suitable for families with specialized instructors and snow kindergartens.

A holiday is not just about discovery, but also about relaxation and fun, areas in which Trentino Alto Adige has nothing to envy from other Italian regions. There are many spas in Trentino, all located in enviable natural settings. The waters are in fact renowned throughout Europe as they allow the treatment of various skin diseases such as psoriasis and dermatitis, but also circulatory, respiratory, digestive and arthro-rheumatic problems. The main spas are: Levico Terme, Vetriolo Terme, Roncegno, Pejo, Rabbi.

Trentino Alto Adige has a type of alpine climate that tends to become sub-continental in the lower areas. Generally in Trentino Alto Adige the summers are mild but rainy, while the winters are dry but rather cold and snowy.

Summer temperatures are hot in the valleys, where average max. temperature is reached at 30 degrees C in July, but are significantly reduced with altitude. In winter the minimum average temperatures are usually below zero.

The best time to visit Trentino Alto Adige is between June and September. In this period the temperatures are mild and the days longer, the rains are more conspicuous during the summer and usually fall in the afternoon. Remember that in the mountains the weather conditions often change abruptly.

Winter is great for winter sports lovers, although in some localities, such as the Marmolada, Stelvio and Tonale, it is possible to ski even in the summer months.

In Trentino Alto Adige you can sleep everywhere. Sleeping and enjoying a holiday in this area is always a unique experience. All experiences of stay in Trentino Alto Adige are worth living. The classic hotel, in most cases, offers half-board at a favorable price. The comfort, the value of the furnishings, the accessories of the room increase according to the number of stars of the hotel. The most traditional hotels are usually found in the cities, but if we consider the most exclusive hotels, these are found in more isolated areas, in the heart of the nature and offering windows and balconies with breathtaking views of the valley and the surrounding mountains.

Apartments are also available for rent in Trentino Alto Adige. In perfect Tyrolean style, the apartments are always comfortable. The accessories of a classic hotel are never missing, kitchens always have everything they need, even a dishwasher.

Typical Tyrolean farmhouses are also available for renting, in close contact with nature, animals and genuine cuisine. An experience recommended for all families with children especially!

Or you can always choose to sleep in a mountain shelter, in a castle within the clouds, or why not in a real castle?

Cordiality and kindness, are always present in Trentino Alto Adige. Even in the most reserved structures, you can always enjoy the warmth and hospitality of Trentino Alto Adige, without feeling yourself in one of the many tourist hotels.

An ideal destination in every season of the year, Trentino Alto Adige is not only synonymous with beautiful mountain landscapes and outdoor activities but it is also a place rich in culinary traditions, some influenced by the flavors of German and Austrian cuisine. The regional cuisine of Trentino boasts numerous specialties that can delight even the most refined palates, thanks also to the use of good and genuine local products.

Among the excellences of the Italian territory and more specifically of Trentino Alto Adige, a place of honor is occupied by apples. The Trentino apple is not only a product of regional tradition but a real resource for the territory. The apples of Trentino-Alto Adige, in fact, are known throughout Europe as a quality local product.

Apples are used to make many recipes, both savory and sweet, including the famous strudel, a dessert prepared with puff pastry, apples and raisins.

Some typical products and dishes that you must try: canederli, are these stale bread balls flavored with various ingredients including speck, cheese, vegetables and aromatic herbs. They are served both in broth and dry, seasoned with melted butter and often accompanied with sauerkraut, goulash and other specialties.

Carne salada, a great classic of Trentino cuisine, especially in the southern provinces of the region, is this cured beef meat that is first marinated in salt, pepper and garlic and then flavored in brine, a very ancient recipe created to preserve meat during the winter. It can also be eaten on its own and is served in thin slices, such as carpaccio simply dressed with oil and parmesan flakes, but if you want to try a typical recipe, order the carne salada e fasoi, or the salted meat accompanied with beans.

Speck of Alto Adige is the most typical salami of this region and is characterized by its tasty taste and an unmistakable scent. It is so good that it can be eaten alone, simply with bread, but it is also used in dumplings and in many other dishes of Trentino. I very often eat it for breakfast when I’m back home in Italy. Is super delicious!

If you want to try a typical snack, order the tasty Schüttelbrot, to eat strictly together with speck and cheese. The Schüttelbrot is a type of crusty bread with a round and thin shape, prepared with rye flour, water, yeast, salt and some spices. Being very tasty it lends itself well to accompany cheeses and cured meats for an aperitif or a snack.

I don’t know you, but I’m already hungry

Thank you all for reading.

Join me next time and let’s discover another easy and delicious recipe.

And if you enjoy traveling as much as I do, you may visit my other posts and discover our world one step at the time.

Photo credit: Google Images & Pixabay, edited by Popsicle Society