Trentino-Alto Adige

Trentino-Alto Adige is a region in northeastern Italy, known for its natural beauty, culture, and unique traditions. The region comprises two autonomous provinces, Trentino and South Tyrol, and offers a wide range of attractions for tourists, mainly related to mountains and winter.

Bordering Austria, Lombardy, Veneto, and Switzerland, it has as its regional capital the city of Trento, of Roman or even Gallic origin, which is the main city of Trentino while the city of Bolzano is the principal city of South Tyrol. To sum up, Trentino-Alto Adige is a unique and fascinating region that with its scenic beauty, glacial lakes, panoramas, unique culture, typical cuisine, and much more makes it an ideal destination for a holiday in Italy outside the usual pattern.

As we have already stated, Trentino-Alto Adige is famous for its unspoiled nature. Indeed, the region is home to mountains and valleys that offer a wide range of opportunities for nature lovers, such as hiking, trekking, cycling, and winter and summer sports. It is also home to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites, shared with Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto, which are one of the region's most popular attractions; with their breathtaking views, they offer tourists unique places and truly extraordinary activities.

There is also an extraordinary national park in the region, the Stelvio (Stilfserjoch) National Park, which was created at the beginning of 1935 and now extends partly into Lombardy. In addition to this, the region also has ten provincial parks, including the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park, the Sciliar Nature Park and the Paneveggio-Pale Nature Park. 

Returning to the Stelvio Nature Park, we are talking about a protected area established in 1935, and today it is one of the oldest national parks in Italy. It is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and its wide range of flora and fauna. It is an exceptionally important place for hiking and is of incredible value to all lovers of adventure and the outdoors. Visitors can explore hiking trails and mountain walks, go rafting and canyoning, and go cycling on the famous Stelvio (Stilfserjoch) road. In general, this National Park is a unique and fascinating destination that attracts more and more visitors from all over the world every year. 

But Trentino-Alto Adige is not only nature, it is also known for its unique culture and traditions. Did you know that this region is one of the few in Italy where two different cultures and languages, Italian and German, coexist? This unique fusion of cultures and traditions creates a special experience for visitors. For example, many traditional festivities are celebrated throughout the region, such as the Festa di San Giovanni in summer and the Carnevale di Fiemme in winter.

Turning instead to the history of Trentino Alto Adige, we can say that it is very ancient and complex, with a combination of cultural, linguistic, and political influences from different neighboring countries. During the Roman period, the region was known as the 'Adige Valley' and was later ruled by several powerful medieval families. In the 19th century, Trentino South Tyrol became part of Austria-Hungary and remained under Austrian control until the end of the First World War, when it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. After the Second World War, the region became one of the autonomous regions of Italy.

Last but not least: the region's typical dishes and cuisine. In fact, Trentino-Alto Adige offers a wide range of culinary specialities, from homemade pasta to specialities based on local cheeses and cured meats, from strudel to Tyrolean gnocchetti and the very famous Canaderli; don't you know them? They are balls of stale bread, eggs and spices typical of Italian Alpine cuisine. These tasty morsels are usually served as a first course and are highly appreciated for their very soft texture and their versatility in terms of seasonings. They are usually cooked in meat or vegetable broth, but can also be served in sauce or melted butter.

The original recipe uses stale bread, eggs, grated cheese, spices and parsley. However, many chefs and cooks have experimented with the dish using different ingredients: cold cuts, vegetables, potatoes, and whatever else is needed to create unique and tasty variations.

In addition, the region is also famous for its quality wines, such as Lagrein or Moscato di Tramin. The latter is a type of sweet white wine known for its fruity notes of apple, peach and apricot and its floral and spicy aroma. It is mainly produced from 'Moscato Bianco' grapes grown in the Tramin area and surrounding areas. The Moscato Bianco vine is an ancient variety that dates back thousands of years and has been cultivated here in the region for centuries. Are these not also reasons to come on holiday here?