The Strada Delle Dolomiti is a good mountain road that travels through a picturesque nature reserve amidst some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe, an enchanting region in northern Italy, the Alto Adige.

The age-old charm of the historical city centre of Cortina d´Ampezzo is captivating and the facades of its chalets and hotels are richly decorated with frescos. The beauty of this reddish-shining mountain region is unique in the world. Crowned with peaks such as the Tofaneand the Ristallo, 1224 metres above sea level, Cortina extends into the sunny Ampezzo Valley.

Alpe Di Siusi, the Seiser Alm, contains a fifty square kilometre recreation area. In summer, hikers come to this high plateau and in winter it’s popular with cross-country sportsmen. Europe’s largest alpine meadow is located at an altitude of two thousand metres above sea level and horse-drawn sleighs are at the ready for local excursions pulled by tough and hardy Haflinger horses.

The region’s metropolis is Bolzano-Bozen that is situated in a valley basin that opens up to the south. The symbol of the city is its Late Gothic Bishop Church and in the adjoining Baroque chapel there is a collection of priceless frescos. The stone images and grotesque symbols on its facade indicate the great influence of the basic doctrines of the Church. In the small alleys of the picturesque old town the houses have arcades that are known as Lauben. Luxurious middle-class houses with artistically painted facades adorn the alleys of the old town that was used by the Romans as a central resting place while travelling to the north.

Brunico-Bruneck is the main village of Puster Valley. In 1250 Bishop Bruno of Brixen built this strongly fortified city and castle against the monarchs of the Tyrol. The rows of houses in the Stadtgasse date back to the 15th and 16th centuries and make it one of the most beautiful streets in the Tyrol.

High on a rock at the entrance to the Valle Aurina-Ahrntal is Taufers Castle, one of the mightiest fortified buildings in the Tyrol.

For history combined with fairytale scenery, the Alto Aldige is the place to be!