A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol

Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Valentin Pardeller. The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rose garden glows impressively in the evening glow on the horizon of the regional capital of Bozen.A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol – Sudtirol.

South Tyrol (or Sudtirol) is open for visitors this summer. On June 3rd, borders will start opening for regional tourism within the EU and Schengen countries (all depending on Covid-19 cases keep on being down), so, I’ve thought I could put together a Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

A classic South Tyrolean village with the impressive Dolomites in its backdrop. Photo: © IDM Südtirol. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
A classic South Tyrolean village with the impressive Dolomites in its backdrop. Photo: © IDM Südtirol. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

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South Tyrol is the northernmost province in Italy, bordering the Tirol and Östirol regions in Austria. Actually, it used to be part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire as part of the Tirol region (it was actually called Mittletirol). It changed hands to Italy after the defeat of the central powers on WWI in 1918.

How to get to South Tyrol

Fly to Innsbruck in Austria or Verona in Italy. If not, you have the options of Bozen/Bolzano airport, that is a smaller regional airport, or Bergamo, Venezia, Milano Linate, Milano Malpensa or Munich.

Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Harald Wisthaler. Rowing boats at the Lago di Braies Nature Park, one of the most beautiful lakes I've seen in my life, worth a visit and a walk around the lake, which is easy for anybody! A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
.Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Harald Wisthaler. Rowing boats at the Lago di Braies Nature Park, one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve seen in my life, worth a visit and a walk around the lake, which is easy for anybody! A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

Driving to South Tyrol

 

Coming from Austria, just pass Innsbruck and take the Brenner Pass, and you’ll be there. From Verona, go up the Brenner Motorway (A22 Autostrada del Brennero) and drive north. South Tyrol is part of the Trentino Alto Adige province, located in the northern side (the Alto Adige side).

Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. From St. Zyprian in Eggental there is an impressive view of the rose garden, here against a clear blue sky. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. From St. Zyprian in Eggental there is an impressive view of the rose garden, here against a clear blue sky. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

Languages in South Tyrol

70% German, 25% Italian and 5% Ladin. The Ladin is a mountain language, what is considered a Romansh language spoken in the Dolomite valleys of Val Gardena and Alta Badia.

Photo: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. Autumn is colorful in the Meraner Land, like here at Lebenberg Castle above Tscherms, where thanksgiving is celebrated. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
Photo: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. Autumn is colorful in the Meraner Land, like here at Lebenberg Castle above Tscherms, where thanksgiving is celebrated. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

What to do in South Tyrol in the Summer.

Go to the area of Kronplatz and Brunico.

 

Kronplatz is a mountain in the border of what is Dolomites and Alps. The mountain itself has a shape of a Panettone with a punch in the middle. It is a very interesting mountain, which is connected with four villages around and lifts to each one on each sides.

Kronplatz in the summer. Photo: Kronplatz. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
Kronplatz in the summer. Photo: Kronplatz. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

Kronplatz is not only interesting for skiing in winter or hiking and mountain biking in the summerr. There is a good reason to go to the top of the mountain all year round, even if you don’t ski, ride, hike or bike! It is the only mountain, that I know of, with two really grand museums on its peak! These museums are Lumen Museum and MMM Corones.

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Lunch at Baita Sofie in Seceda, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sudtirol

Baita Sofie on Monte Seceda in the Dolomites of Val Gardena on a sunny day. Lunch at Baita Sofie in Seceda, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sudtirol.

Lunch at Baita Sofie in Seceda, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sudtirol

Last weekend I was skiing in the Dolomites, specifically in Kronplatz, Alte Badia, Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi, all in the Sudtirol province.

We were a group of very good skiers (except myself, that I am worst each year that goes by), and the Dolomites have received the biggest storm this year – between 50 and 80 cm in one go. This made that all the passes in the Sella Ronda were closed. But last Saturday, we left our lovely 5 stars hotel in Corvara (the Sassongher) to get up to the top of Alta Badia- The snow was soft, really nice, and deep. For being on piste, it was a bit tracked up, which was difficult for me, but slowly – really slowly, I get to meet my group, who were fresh of waiting for me! I’ve thought this year I was really in shape, but I guess that, as I am getting into my 50’s, it means that I need to do much more to be really fit!

Lunch at Baita Sofie in Seceda, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sudtirol.
Lunch at Baita Sofie in Seceda, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sudtirol.

Anyways, from Corvara, after a pit-stop at the Rifugio Bioch for a grappa – (I’ve stayed with a doppio espresso cappuccino decafeinatto- that is what I was drinking these days), we braved the windy morning and kept our way towards the Passo Gardena and then down into Selva in Val Gardena. From there was up again and down to Santa Cristina – the neighbouring village in Val Gardena. From down Santa Cristina we took an underground funicular to then take another gondola and a chairlift up to the Seceda.

From up there we skied a bit down to Baita Sofie- stuck pretty much at the top of Seceda, at 2,410 meters over sea level, with magnificent views of the Sassolungo and the Gruppo della Sella.

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THE-SKI-GURU TRAVEL takes you to a long Ski Safari in the Dolomites

The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a Long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. Photo: Giuseppe Ghedina.

 The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. If you are one of those that likes variety, and want to know lots of places in one go, and perhaps, gets bored to ski in one area all week long, then you should come and do a ski safari with us. The place, the mighty Dolomites, with their sun drenched pink mountaintops – caused by the Enrosadira effect. This Ski-Safari takes you from hut-to-hut in the Dolomites, using the lift-serviced pistes and having your small luggage delivered for you every day so you can concentrate in your skiing.

The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a Long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. Photo: Giuseppe Ghedina.
The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a Long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. Photo: Giuseppe Ghedina.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience the Dolomiti Superski – a “carousel” of 12 inter-connected resorts with 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) of prepared pistes!
  • Ski “hut-to-hut” staying in family-run mountain rifugios and charming hotels – the perfect combination of mountain accommodations
  • Savour the delicious, hearty cuisine the Dolomites are known for as you taste your way from valley to valley…
  • Enjoy superb skiing with our world-class, certified ski mountain guides, who will show you the best of the Dolomites on skis!

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Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

These unique Dolomite vistas encompass the extensive Alta Badia ski area, with magnificent views of the Sasso Lungo Peak and the Sella Mountain Range. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets. Photo: IDM Sudtirol.

Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

When you think of Sudtirol you think of the Dolomites in Northern Italy. The province of South Tyrol, or Sudtirol is bordering in the north with the Tirol in Austria and to the south with Trentino. The scenery is to die for, in reality, I have never seen more impressive and beautiful terrain in the world, the mountains are impressive and very rocky sculptured peaks, and at dawn or dusk, they turn into pink, thanks to the Enrosadira effect.

Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.
Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.

Enrosadira is the term given to the phenomenon whereas the peaks of the Dolomites turn into a pink/reddish colour, and then gradually turning into a violet. The reason of these changing colours is because the calcium carbonate and mangnesium carbonate of the dolomite, the mineral found in large quantities in the rocky walls of the Dolomites. Enrosadira is a Ladin term meaning ‘turning pink’. Ladin is an ancient language of the inhabitants of the Dolomites.

There are more than 30 ski areas located across all of South Tyrol. Most of these are part of the two larger ski associations.

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The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The Alpine huts along the ski slopes of the Gardena Valley serve local fare mixing traditional Italian with South Tyrolean dishes; against the magnificent background of the snow-capped peaks of the Sella Mountain Group in the Dolomites. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

Only two weeks after the tragic meteorological event at the end of October, which has brought numerous damages in the Alps, also blowing away the roof of the Comici hut of Selva Val Gardena, works to rebuild the roof are almost completed before the imminent snowfalls.

The time schedule of the works seemed almost impossible, but it was being able to be restored in record time – in just 11 days, with an already final solution that will be completed in the coming days, just in time for the start opening season.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.
The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

This success was due to the coordination of the Marzola group and to the workers of the companies Lignosystem and Zumprafux who have worked uninterruptedly and with great skill at 2153 m to make all this possible. The Comici hut will therefore open in perfect normality at the beginning of the next winter season on Thursday 6 December 2018.

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Dolomiti Superski spends 90 Million Euro investement for the upcoming ski season.

Dolomiti Superski- 3 Zinnen Dolomiten- New Chairlift Mittelstation-Helm. Photo credit: Dolomiti Superski. 90 million Euro investment for the 2018-19 ski season.

Dolomiti Superski is the largest ski carousel in the world, composed of 12 well-known ski resorts and 1,200 km of pistes. Now at the start of its 45th winter season on 30 November 2018, Dolomiti Superski, the world’s largest ski-pass network, will offer many new cable cars and other lifts, new slopes, more snow-making and mountain attractions, with a total investment of 90 million Euros.

130 different member companies that compose Dolomiti Superski have invested 90 million euros. 70% of these investments are in lifts, and 30% on snowmaking.

Dolomiti Superski- Val di Fiemme new rifugio Busabella in Alpe Cermis- Rendering credit: Dolomiti Superski.
Dolomiti Superski- Val di Fiemme new rifugio Busabella in Alpe Cermis- Rendering credit: Dolomiti Superski.

New lifts:

Coming 2018-19 winter season, Alta Badia will replace the “Roby” 2-seater chairlift with a new modern 6-seater- chairlift. Meanwhile at Seiser Alm and at the Three Peaks Dolomites ski resort the same will happen with the “Mezdi” 2-seater chairlif and the “Mittelstation” 2-seater chairlift. In San Martino di Castrozza, the new 10-passenger cirulating ropeway “Colbricon Express” will replace a 3-seater and a 4-seater chairlift.

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