A region in northern Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige (South Tyrol) has a very German flavour in its northern, Alpine reaches, but is more Italian in the southern (Trentino) area.
The region is bilingual and bordered by Austria and the Alps to the north, Switzerland and the Alps to the west, Lombardy south-west, Veneto to the south, Friuli, Venezia Giulia to the east. The two main towns are German Bolzano (Bozen) and Italian Trento. The Dolomites have excellent skiing, with Madonna di Campoglio and San Martino di Castrozza among the popular resorts. There is also good hiking, with stunning countryside, including the Paneveggio National Park and the Rosengarten or Catinaccio mountains, the Parco Naturale dello Stelvio and the Ghicciacio dei Forni glacier.
See the 13th century Castello Roncolo (castle), the Ice Man of Bolzano, and the Piazza Duomo in Trento. The menu will include speck (German ham), bread dumplings, goulash, game and rabbit, and puddings and pastries with plums, pears and apples. Wine includes good Pinot Grigios and Chardonnays and sparkling whites (spumante). Reds include Kaltersee and Santa Maddalena, and the Adige valley has the Strada di Vino wine road.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, just to whet your appetite,
as well as links to individual towns in Trentino - Alto Adige (top left);
See also Trentino - Alto Adige hotels (full listings) and our map of Trentino - Alto Adige.
