Mini guide to the Val di Sole
1 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Welcome to the Val di Sole Thank you for booking with Appartamenti Violalpina! Our apartments are located in Malè and Croviana in the heart of the Val di Sole. They are all less than 10 minutes from the ski slopes and ski lifts. The apartments all have private bathrooms, a fully- equipped kitchen, master and guest bedrooms, parquet floors and traditional furniture.
Val di Sole in winter means… plenty of snow! Thanks to its unique position among the highest peaks of the Central and Eastern Alps, Val di Sole is one of the Alpine valleys with the most abundant snowfall. There’s plenty to do in summer, spring and autumn too with hiking, biking, mushroom gathering and more!
To help you get the most out of your visit, we’ve put together a mini guide with information on all the top towns, attractions and things to do in the Val di Sole. We hope you enjoy it and we wish you a fantastic vacation!
2 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 3 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Contents Our apartments and a map 6 Main towns in the Val di Sole 8 Malè & Croviana 10 Dimaro 12 Val di Rabbi 14 Val di Peio 16 Marilleva 18 Passo Tonale 20 Bolzano 22 Merano 24 Trento 26 Things to do in the Val di Sole 28 Skiing and snowboarding 30 Ski area map 32 Cross country skiing 34 Other winter sports 36 Nordic walking 38 Biking 40 Rafting, kayaking and canoeing 42 Other non-winter sports 44 Wellness 46 Food and wine 48 Local products 50 Christmas markets 52
4 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 5 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Croviana
Distance from our apartments to: • the closest ski lifts (Commezzadura/Daolasa - Skiarea Campiglio): 10 minutes Malè station, where you can catch trains to the ski lifts and Trento: 150m • the Malè cycling track: 350m • the swimming pool: 250m • the tennis court: 150m • free parking: 200m • the cinema: 150m • the Despar supermarket: 200m • the Trentini supermarket: 150m • the pharmacy: 100m
Our apartments are located in the centre of Malè and Croviana, and close to free parking, public transport and the shops!
* These distances are from our Malè apartments. Add an extra 700m if you are staying in our Croviana apartments.
6 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 7 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Malè & Croviana 10 Dimaro 12 Val di Rabbi 14 Main towns in Val di Peio 16 Marilleva 18 Passo Tonale 20 Trento 22 the Val di Sole Bolzano 24 Merano 26
8 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 9 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Malè & Croviana Our apartments are all in Malè, except for one, which is located in picturesque Croviana - a 10-minute walk (700m) from Malè.
The biggest town in the valley, Malè has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, great gym, big supermarket and cinema. We’re just a 5-minute drive from the closest ski lifts (Commezzadura) and close to other outdoor activities and sports centres. Our apartments are also right next to Malè’s extensive cycling track. And we’re only 150m from the train station, where you can catch regular trains to the ski lifts and Trento!
While Malè’s roots are Roman, the town was largely destroyed in a fire in the 19th century, so its look is modern. It has always been the economic centre of the valley and has plenty to offer visitors.
Top attractions: • Olympic-sized swimming pool and sports and spa centre • cinema, where you can catch the latest Italian films • Pondasio: an evocative cluster of houses built around a stone bridge, all of which reportedly date back to Roman times • Museo della Civiltà Solandra: a museum dedicated to the peasant and artisan society of past centuries • extensive cycling track along the Noce River and many bike rental stores
Must try: Apples: Malè is the Val di Sole’s apple heart, and is where you’ll find the best and freshest fruit, as well as ciders, vinegar, jams and cakes.
Tourist information centre: Via Guglielmo Marconi, 7, Malè (www.valdisole.net)
A note about Croviana: This tiny village has beautifully preserved its 16th-century roots. Our Croviana apartments are located in the old castle, which once belonged to the town’s noble rulers. It has its own private parking and garden too!
10 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 11 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Dimaro One of the Val di Sole’s most popular tourist destinations, Dimaro is a 6-minute drive from our apartments. The city was inhabited in pre-Roman times but flourished in the Middle Ages. Its must-see attraction is the Malga di Dimaro, one of the oldest still-functioning dairies in Trentino. The malga organises guided tours and tastings, and sells high quality local cheese and cured meats like speck.
Top attractions: • the Malga di Dimaro • Church of Saint Laurence: this church has numerous beautiful frescoes and mountain-style artwork, as well as a mural, which dates back to Carolingian times and brings to mind the famous portrayals of Saint Benedict at Malles. • Folgardia: the extremely popular ski resort is a great place to shop for ski supplies and try some of the area’s hottest restaurants. • The Adamello Brenta Nature Park is the only Alpine area still inhabited by the brown bear and is a World Heritage Site. It also has the beautiful lady’s slipper orchid and guided tours can be organised at the visitor’s centre.
• Skiarea Campiglio Brenta Dolomites Val di Sole Val Rendena has direct lift connection between Folgarida Marilleva, Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo.
Tourist information centre: Via Campiglio, Dimaro
12 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 13 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Val di Rabbi The Val di Rabbi is a 10-minute drive from our apartments. The valley has been home to farmers since the 11th century and is renowned for both its natural beauty and dairy products.
The valley’s major attraction is the Stelvio National Park. More than 100,000 hectares of parkland extend across the valley and the adjacent Val di Peio. The park is home to some of the oldest and biggest examples of larches and Swiss pine trees, which hide squirrels, deer and the emblem of the parkland: the golden eagle.
The park has plenty to offer visitors from guided tours to an antique Venetian sawmill, which is now a museum, shepherds huts (malghe), mountain farmsteads (masi), traditional dairies, forts, botanical trails and wildlife areas.
With its Pian Palù Lake and the Cascate di Saent waterfall, it’s also the perfect place for a walk or picnic!
Top attractions: • Stelvio National Park • San Bernadino: a cute hamlet with a beautiful church and some fantastic gourmet shops. • Terme di Rabbi: The water at the Rabbi hot springs is rich in minerals and sodium and has a high concentration of carbon dioxide. The spa centre is open May to September. • Caseificio Turnario: An ancient dairy turned museum that’s the perfect place to learn about the culinary traditions of the valley.
Tourist information centre: Rabbi Vacanze, Fraz. San Bernardo
14 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 15 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Marilleva-Mezzana A bustling ski resort with shops, swimming pools and sports centres, Marilleva is a 15-minute drive from our apartments. Its name is tied to a local legend in which a wife tells her lazy husband that she’s fed up, screaming “husband, get up” (‘marì levà’ in dialect).
The best part about Marilleva is that you can ski right up to your hotel doorstep from special slopes. While the top attraction is Madonna di Campiglio, the super chic ski resort with the best shops and restaurants in the valley. The village regularly hosts World Cup alpine and snowboarding races.
The Scuderia Ferrari Formula One and Ducati Corse MotoGP teams hold an annual media event every January at the village. It’s where all the celebrities relax after a day of skiing!
Top Attractions: • Madonna di Campiglio • Skiarea Campiglio Brenta Dolomites Val di Sole Val Rendena has direct lift connection between Folgarida Marilleva, Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo and 150km of slopes.
Tourist information centre: Via IV Novembre, 75, Mezzana
16 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 17 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Val di Peio The Val di Peio is a 20-minute drive from our apartments. Trentino is famous for its untouched natural splendour and the Val di Peio is an outdoors-man’s paradise with a landscape that’s perfect for walking, hiking, bike riding and exploring.
The valley bears traces of a Gallican-Rhaetian population that lived here a few centuries before Christ. It shares the Stelvio National Park with the Val di Rabbi and has some of the Val di Sole’s oldest hamlets, all of which are famous for their organic cheese.
The top attraction in the valley is the Terme di Peio, a super luxurious spa complex, which is open from December to April each year. The complex has three fonts of mineral drinking water, and a spa with thermal pools, jacuzzi and sauna.
Top attractions: • Stelvio National Park • Terme di Peio • medieval church dedicated to Santa Lucia in Comasine • Peio Paese with its beautiful Alpine style buildings • the Nativity of Maria Church in Pellizzano • Caldès beautiful castle • Museo della Guerra Bianca in Peio: a museum dedicated to the daily life of the soldiers on the war front and the people that lived in the valley during WWII.
• Skiarea Peio Stelvio National Park: perfect for families with children
Must visit: The Caseificio Turnario di Peio Paese is the last cooperative cheese factory in Trentino. It produces butter and cheese (Casolèt and Nostrano) every day using traditional methods and milk from cattle and goats bred in the village. It’s located in Peio Paese.
Tourist information centre: Piazza Municipio 5, Cogolo di Peio
18 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 19 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Passo Tonale The oldest recorded part of the valley, the Passo Tonale dates back to the 8th century and is named after the god Jove, the Thunderer. It is a 35-minute drive from our apartments.
The Passo Tonale is a favourite training ground for cross-country and downhill ski champions. The highlights are the Tonale meadows, which are the perfect starting point for a hike with lift services to the Presena glacier.
Top attractions: • Fort Strino: a restored WWI fort • Galleria Paradiso: A long tunnel dug in the granite rock during WWI, and used by the soldiers as a shelter. It’s now a museum with some spectacular relics.
• Skiarea Adamello Ski Passo Tonale: 30 modern lifts with 100km of slopes that take you to the famous Presena Glacier.
Tourist information centre: Via Roma, 38, Temù BS
20 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 21 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Trento The closest city to the Val di Sole, Trento is a 45-minute drive from our apartments. Its architecture has a unique feel, with both Italian Renaissance and Germanic influences. You can catch regular trains to Trento from Malè station, which isa convenient 150m walk from our apartments!
It’s famous for its annual Christmas market and hosts a number of fantastic music, film and food festivals throughout the year.
Top attractions: • Duomo (Cathedral of Saint Vigilius): a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral of the 12th-13th century, built on top of a late-Roman basilica. • Piazza Duomo, located next to the Cathedral, with frescoed Renaissance buildings and the Late Baroque Fountain of Neptune (Fontana di Nettuno) • Palazzo delle Albere: a Renaissance villa located next to the Adige River, built around 1550 by the Madruzzo family, now hosting a modern art museum. • Palazzo Pretorio, next to the Duomo, of the 12th century, with a bell tower (Torre Civica) of the 13th century (it now hosts a collection of Baroque religious paintings). • Various underground remains of the streets and villas of the Roman city (in Via Prepositura and Piazza Cesare Battisti).
Tourist information centre: Via Manci, 2, Trento
22 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 23 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Bolzano Bolzano is an hour’s drive from our apartments. It’s Italy’s most liveable city and has prehistoric roots and a thriving economy that produces wines, fruits and dairy products as well as beautiful handicrafts! You can catch regular trains to Bolzano from Malè station, which is a convenient 150m walk from our apartments!
It’s famous for its annual Christmas market and its bilingual signage, which are just one example of how the city is a crossroads between Italian and Austrian cultures.
Top attractions: • Walther Square, with its statue of a German minstrel • Laubengasse with its medieval carcades and high-street shops • the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and the Ötzi the Iceman mummy • the Gothic Cathedral, started in 1184 and completed in the early 16th century • the Chiesa dei Domenicani (13th century), with its 14th-century Gothic paintings • various castles, including Castle Maretsch, Runkelstein Castle and Firmian/ Sigmundskron Castle • Victory Monument: a triumphal arch built by Benito Mussolini and the site of an exhibition on the regional history during Italian fascism and German Nazism • Museion: a museum of modern and contemporary art
Tourist information centre: Piazza Walther, Bolzano
24 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 25 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Merano Merano is an hour and a half’s drive from our apartments. The city has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium and has a beautiful mix of Italian and German- inspired architecture. You can catch regular trains to Bolzano and onto Merano from Malè station, which is a convenient 150m walk from our apartments!
It’s famous for its annual Christmas market and has more native German speakers than Italian ones!
Top attractions: • medieval city gates • the Gothic St. Nicholas’ Church and St. Barbara’s Chapel (15th century) • the Princely Castle (Landesfürstliche Burg), the once residence of Sigismund, Archduke of Austria • Empress Elisabeth Park and beautiful stone bridges • the Trauttmansdorff Castle and its gardens are located just outside town
Tourist information centre: Corso della Libertà, 45, Merano
26 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 27 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Skiing and snowboarding 30 Ski area map 32 Cross country skiing 34 Things to do in Other winter sports 36 Nordic walking 38 Biking 40 Rafting, kayaking and canoeing 42 the Val di Sole Other non-winter sports 44 Wellness 46 Food and wine 48 Local products 50 Christmas markets 52
28 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 29 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Skiing and snowboarding
If you’re visiting the Val di Sole in winter then you’re probably here to ski or snowboard. The valley has Italy’s best and biggest ski resort with plenty of facilities for all levels. True beginners can choose from a list of fantastic ski schools with lessons costing an average of €40 an hour for adults. Kids can also play in dedicated ski parks, while snowboarders can try their hand at snowtubing at the Adamello Freestyle Arena and Malghet Aut Snowpark.
As for slopes, the Val di Sole has 270km of them and 97 ski lifts. They’re divided into three distinct areas: • Skiarea Campiglio Brenta Dolomites Val di Sole Val Rendena has direct lift connection between Folgarida Marilleva, Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo, and 150km of slopes • Skiarea Adamello Ski Passo Tonale: 30 modern lifts with 100km of slopes that take you to the famous Presena Glacier • Skiarea Peio: within the Stelvio National Park and perfect for families with children
The closest ski lifts from our apartments are Commezzadura (Skiarea Campiglio), located just a 5-minute drive away! You can catch regular trains to all the ski lifts from Malè station, which is a convenient 150m walk from our apartments.
Boots, skis and any other equipment can be rented on the slopes or from the numerous shops at the base of the ski lifts.
The official Val di Sole website rates these asthe best ski runs in the Val di Sole: • Nera Folgarida - Folgarida • Orti - Marilleva • Paradiso - Passo Tonale • Doss dei Gembri - Tarlenta
The longest ski runs in the valley are: • Val della Mite - Peio Fonti • Presena Glacier - Ponte di Legno • Monte Vigo - Marilleva 1400 • Monte Spolverino - Folgarida
30 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 31 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 32 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 33 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Cross country skiing
The Val di Sole has 55km of cross-country ski trails. You can rent all the equipment you need from the various ski schools. The Val di Sole tourism board also offers free 2-hour Nordic skiing lessons with equipment rental every Monday from January 6 at the cross-country skiing centre in Vermiglio and cross-country skiing centre in Cogolo di Peio.
Crossing country skiing centres: • Crossing country skiing centre - Ruby • Crossing country skiing centre - Cogolo: four easy trails, perfect for beginners with sunlight most of the day • Crossing country skiing centre - Mezzana: a 6km route that runs along the Noce River • Crossing country skiing centre - Ossana: perfect for all skiers • Crossing country skiing centre - Rabbi: a 5km route with a varied landscape • Crossing country skiing centre - Commezzadura: a challenging 4km route, for experts
To book and find out more about cross-country ski lessons, schools and trails, visit the official Val di Sole website.
34 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 35 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Other winter sports
Skiing and snowboarding aren’t for everyone, so luckily the Val di Sole has plenty of other winter sports to choose from:
Ski mountaineering: A difficult and arduous sport, but extremely enjoyable if you want to see the Val di Sole’s snow covered slopes and peaks going up instead of down. As you are not restricted to ski resorts or cordoned slopes, it’s important that you exercise caution. Recommended itineraries are available on the official Val di Sole website. Always check with a tourist information centre before you leave for up to date information about snow conditions, closed itineraries and the weather.
Snowshoeing: It might look hilarious, but snowshoeing is one of the Val di Sole’s most traditional sports and actually very hard! The Val di Sole has 37 groomed and ribboned trails for snowshoeing. You don’t need any special training and can rent everything from schools in the valley. Snowshoe Adventures organises annual walking excursions between Jan and April, which include guided night walks, dinner at a traditional dairy and sled ride. For more about guided tours, check out the official Val di Sole website.
Dogsledding: While it sounds like something better suited to Iceland, dogsledding has been a popular sport in Italy since the 1980s. Only certain breeds are used to pull the sled - usually Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds and Greenlanders. The Scuola Italiana Sleddog organises dogsledding courses and itineraries for adults and children 10 years and older. Under the guidance of an expert ‘musher’ (sled driver), you master commands like gee (right) and hike (go) before heading out on a tour of the Val di Sole led by champion huskies.
Ice skating: Plenty of fun for beginners and experts, and a perfect activity for the family! The main ice staking rinks are in Folgarida and Malè but you can also skate at: • Pattinaggio Gabri - Frazione: Cogolo - Peio • Pattinaggio Mezzana at the Centro Sportivo - Mezzana • Pattinaggio Passo Tonale at the Bar Chalet Savoia • Pattinaggio Vermiglio at the Centro Fondo - Vermiglio
Contact them for skating times and prices. A couple of hours in the rink will cost you €10 and includes shoe hire.
36 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 37 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Nordic walking
Nordic Walking is the Val di Sole’s newest craze. It has plenty of health benefits including relieving joint pain and improving muscle condition and posture. It’s also a whole bodywork out that consumes more energy than skiing or jogging.
To get the full benefit of Nordic Walking, you need to master the technique, which is why it’s a good idea to have at least one lesson with an instructor if it’s your very first time. As the only equipment you need are Nordic Walking poles, the sport can be enjoyed in winter or summer.
The Val di Sole has four special Nordic Walking paths: Stelvio Rabbi, Stelvio Peio, Presanella and the Val di Sole Route. Inside each are kilometres of paths divided into blue (easy), red (medium) and black (hard) trails.
All these trails can be enjoyed with an alpine guide. The two main guide schools are Scuola Italiana di Alpinismo e Scialpinismo Val di Sole and the Scuola Italiana di Alpinismo e Scialpinismo Alp Emotions. You can find out more about the routes, Nordic Walking schools and rentals on the official Val di Sole website.
All our apartments have ample corridors where you can store all your equipment safely.
38 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 39 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Biking
The Val di Sole has spent some serious euros to ensure it has one of the best cycling and mountain biking system in Italy.
Take your pick from hundreds of itineraries for all levels and discover the very best natural scenery and landscapes high in the mountains, along the river, around hidden lakes or just far away from the noise and traffic. There’s even a 35km cycling path along the Noce River for those who don’t want to rent a mountain bike.
If it’s your first time, you can opt for lessons with the numerous mountain bike schools. Classes average at €20. You can also rent everything you need from these schools. For a list of mountain bike schools and rentals, check out the official Val di Sole website. The website also has an interactive map with all the cycling and mountain bike itineraries and the option to download them in PDF or onto your navigation unit.
All our apartments have ample corridors where you can store 2 or 3 mountain bikes safety. We are located just 150m from the Malé bike trail, which connects you to the cycling path that runs along the Noce River.
40 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 41 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Rafting, kayaking and canoeing
Water sports are one of the most popular activities in the Val di Sole. The Noce River, which runs right through Malè, is perfect for novices and experts, and hosts numerous water rafting competitions every year.
Water rafting or canoeing are spectacular ways to see another side of the Val di Sole. With an expert guide, you can travel down the river’s secret passageways, getting up close to the mountains and forests and admiring the beautiful scenery on what is a pretty exhilarating ride!
If you’re scared about getting tipped into the river - don’t worry. Courses being with a practise session, so you know your way around the boat and what to do when the water gets rough.
The Noce River is a fairly calm river and you can choose to go alone or with a guide. Vessels are different sizes, so you can travel as an individual, couple or family.
Rafting Centre Val di Sole runs regular rafting, canoe and kayaking tours for all levels, starting at €39 per person. All you have to bring is a t-shirt, swimming costume, shoes that can get wet and a towel. A helmet, life jacket and wetsuit will be provided.
These schools also run canyoning classes, which is traveling in canyons using a variety of techniques such as walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling (rappelling), and swimming.
42 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 43 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Other non-winter sports
Horseback riding: Whether you want to explore the countryside on horseback yourself or snuggle under a warm blanket on a sled, the Val di Sole has plenty of horse riding schools. The best is Centro Equitazione Alpina “Val di Sole”, which organises riding tours and lessons, sleigh rides and full day workshops for those who want to learn the practise of equitation. The programs can be tailored to all ages and levels.
Indoor climbing: Head over to the Val di Sole climbing school at the Mezzana Sports Centre to try your hand at the 15-metre wall. Suitable for all ages.
Free climbing: There are numerous natural and artificial free climbing walls located around the Val di Sole. Free climbing can be a difficult, so it’s a good idea to practise in an indoor setting before attempting it outdoors. For more information, contact the Alpine Guides of Val di Sole. Free climbing is rock climbing with all the necessary protection - safety harnesses, spikes and guidelines. You can rent all of this at the special free climbing walls. The main ones are: • Val di Peio - Ponte Vecchio “Al Crozi di Cisa” Natural Rock Wall • Passo Tonale - “Paradiso” Natural Rock Wall • Ossana - “Sass Pisador” Natural Rock Wall • Folgarida - “Doss di Santa Brigida” Natural Rock Wall • Malè - “C. Costanzi” Natural Rock Wall
Adventure Park: The Parco Avventura Flying Park in Malè is the Val di Sole’s main adventure park and has a vast ropes course perfect for adults and children.
Fishing: The Noce, Vermigliana, Meledrio and Rabbies rivers and streams are all perfect for fishing brown trout, river trout and artic char. Tourist licenses are compulsory. For more information, visit www.trentinofishing.it
Walking and hiking: The easiest, cheapest and perhaps most rewarding outdoor activity in the Val di Sole. Summer lifts will take you to the most breathtaking and isolated sections of the valley, while a true smorgasbord of walking and hiking itineraries are available at any tourist information centre. If you’re truly passionate about the Great Outdoors, consider booking and walking to a mountain hut. There are plenty of these refuges scattered across the valley, allowing you to stretch your sightseeing journey over a day or three. For more information, visit the official Val di Sole website.
44 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 45 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Wellness
The Val di Sole has two spectacular spas and an Olympic-sized swimming pool when you need to relax:
Pejo Thermal Spa: The most popular spa in the Val di Sole, it has an entire floor dedicated to relaxation with a heated pool, sauna, Turkish bath and numerous relaxation areas. Entry is €20 for adults.
Rabbi Thermal Spa: This spa has a modern whirlpool, Kneipp therapy, herbal and mudpacks and an exclusive line of “FerrumC” beauty products.
Aquacentre Val di Sole: Malè’s Olympic-sized swimming pool, kid’s pool and whirlpool.
46 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 47 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Food and wine
Farmer’s market: Buy direct from the farmer at these markets: • Malè, every Saturday morning in Piazza Regina Elena • Pellizzano, every Wednesday morning in Parco Sama • Cogolo, every Friday morning in Piazza Municipio
Strada della Mela e Sapori: The Val di Sole has a dedicated food trail that connects you with the best producers, restaurants and gourmet stores in the valley. For maps and information, visit a tourist information centre or the official website.
Mushroom gathering: A fantastic way to experience the Great Outdoors and gather a dinner of porcini and numerous other edible mushroom species. A license is compulsory and costs €10 a day. You can pick one up from any tourist information centre. The centre can also provide the contact number of a mushroom expert, who will check your mushrooms for free to make sure they’re not poison.
48 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 49 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Local products
The Val di Sole is famous for its cuisine, which is unlike anywhere in Italy. Its cooler climate and proximity to Austria has given life to a hearty and delicious food heritage where the dishes are richer, more flavourful and heavier than traditional Mediterranean cooking. The Val di Sole’s producers and farmers pride themselves on creating artisanal products grown naturally and take full advantage of the beautiful and unspoilt surroundings.
Here are some of the valley’s best local products:
Apples: The Val di Sole is Italy’s apple capital. It’s the only area to have a DOP trademark (Protected Designation of Origin) and grows five types of apple: Golden and Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji and Renetta. Apples appear in all sorts of local dishes from strudel to juice to vinegar and apple fritters.
Cheese: Casolet of the Val di Sole is a delicate raw cow’s milk that’s a fantastic alternative to mozzarella and is the valley’s most famous cheese. But you can try heaps of others at local caseificior dairies, including Monteson, which has a hay-like aroma and uses both goat and cow’s milk.
Berries: Berries are extremely expensive in the rest of Italy, but you can pick up freshly gathered strawberries, currants, blueberries and blackberries almost all year round in the valley at a steal.
Honey: Val di Sole honey stands out because it’s made in very small quantities and sold directly by beekeepers or in select stores. The valley is famous for three types of honey: the Miele Millefiori d’Alta Montagna (a high mountain wildflower honey with an intense aroma and flavour), Miele di Rododendro (rhododendron honey is delicate, lightweight, light in colour and produced strictly at high altitude) and Melata d’Abete (with its amber tones and sometimes-balmy flavours, it’s a panacea if dissolved in hot milk).
Wines and liquors: The valley makes one wine, the Groppello di Revò I.G.T., a ruby red wine made from a native variety for a good brandy aroma and intense flavour. You can also buy Trentino grappa, which is still made artisanally.
Speck: The most famous local product after the apple is a type of prosciutto that’s lightly smoked and cured. It has an intense flavour and melts in your mouth. It’s used in canederli - a type of dumpling dish that’s very popular in the valley.
50 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 51 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Christmas markets
The Val di Sole is the perfect base at Christmas time. It’s close to all of Italy’s most spectacular Christmas markets and even has some of its own!
Christmas markets are true celebrations of the holidays. They’re the perfect place to buy beautiful handmade decorations and gifts, as well as try seasonal treats like gingerbread and mulled wine.
Italy’s Christmas markets are renowned for their atmosphere too as organisers go to great lengths to make the stalls look festive and celebrate the holidays with lights, live music, Nativity Scenes and Christmas trees.
Italy’s top 5 Christmas markets can all be easily reached from your apartment in the Val di Sole. They are located in Arco, Merano, Trento, Vipiteno and Rovereto and are held every year from the last week of November until 6 January.
52 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] 53 © Appartamenti Violalpina -www.val-di-sole-trentino.com - +39 3929256557 - [email protected] Image credits:
Pian Palù di Fabresta. Con licenza CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/59115147@ N08/6809430404
Terrazzo di Luigi Mengato. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/luigimengato/6009828624
Orso bruno trentino disturbato mentre urina di Matteo De Stefano. Con licenza CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www. flickr.com/photos/matteodestefano/11821420364
“Malè (TN)” di Adert - Opera propria. Con licenza CC BY-SA 3.0 tramite Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia. org/wiki/File:Mal%C3%A8_(TN).jpeg#mediaviewer/File:Mal%C3%A8_(TN).jpeg
Val di Rabbi di Walter. Con licenza CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/doppiavu/14644204850
Val di Peio di Luigi Mengato. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/luigimengato/5650269061
Dimaro di Hotel Vittoria Dimaro De Mazzis e Municipio. Con licenza CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 tramite Flickr http://www.flickr.com/ photos/hotelvittoria_dimaro_val_di_sole_trentino_dolomiti_di_brenta/8173020412
Verso Passo Buole e Cima Mezzana di René Querin. Con licenza CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/ photos/querin/8131498411
Passo tonale di Marco Saraceno. Con licenza CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 tramite Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/msara- ceno/2209120599
Bolzano - Bozen - di Xavier. Con licenza CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 tramite Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/xavipat/6378106167
Merano di Leo-setä. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncle-leo/7823835578
Hiking di Loren Kerns. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://tinyurl.com/lyq435q
Speck shop in Innsbruck di Luca Sbardella. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr -http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbardel- la/8627800478
buffet degustazione Casolet di Hotel Vittoria. Con licenza CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ho- telvittoria_dimaro_val_di_sole_trentino_dolomiti_di_brenta/6149268661/in/photolist-atTAvH-dsdhT4-anrqQf-atTAXk-anoB- kt
Mountain Bike Scharnitz To Achensee, Austria di Travelsource.com. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr. com/photos/trailsource/4935673520
Ski di Trysil. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/trysil/5591525301
Nordic Walking im Herbst in der Dachstein Region di Pension Glitschnerhof. Con licenza CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitschnerhof/5161053216
Christmas joy di tttaaaooo. Con licenza CC BY-ND 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttt11/2070513497 Useful links 834C6183_Dead Sea_Spa_Itamar Grinberg_IMOT di Israel_photo_gallery. Con licenza CC BY-SA 2.0 tramite Flickr - http:// tinyurl.com/nphjocu
• www.val-di-sole-trentino.com Cross Country Ski Class 2014 di College Outdoors. Con licenza CC BY-NC 2.0 tramite Flickr -http://tinyurl.com/kz8u3fo
• www.visittrentino.it/en Whitewater Rafting - Naranjo River - Costa Rica di David Berkowitz. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://tinyurl. • www.valdisole.net/EN/homepage com/pdtk8ad salti in val venegia di photolupi. Con licenza CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/photolu- pi/3290201642
Passo del Tonale di Vašek Vinklát. Con licenza CC BY 2.0 tramite Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/vendin/9388366746
Text © Elisa Scarton Detti 2015
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