1° Day: ARRIVAL
Accomodation in your Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
2° DAY: BOLZANO AND WINE ROAD
Breakfast and departure to Bolzano. Bolzano is the pulsating centre of South Tyrol.
The capital of the province entices visitors with a plethora of shops and boutiques, historic places, a diverse cultural offering and fine cuisine. The arcades are the heart of the city and are among the most popular and most visited places in Bolzano. The arcades are ideal for strolling around and shopping, because the traditional houses with their beautiful façades contain elegant shops and boutiques. The inviting shop-windows present a large selection of tempting goods. Piazza Walther is the largest and most important Piazza in the town. It is also often called the “front room” of the city. In the centre of the Piazza resides “Walther”, as the inhabitants of Bolzano lovingly call the monument. It is made from Lasa marble and was created by sculptor Heinrich Natter from Val Venosta in 1889 in Neo-Romanesque style.
In the historic centre of the town is the fruit market. In 1786 when Goethe stopped off in Bolzano on route to Italy he was already impressed by the colourful fruit market. The vibrant market stalls offer fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, flowers, cheese, Speck cured ham, sausages and cold meats daily except Saturday afternoon and Sundays. The picturesque Piazza del Grano (wheat) was once the seat of the corn and agricultural market. Today the Piazza is framed by pretty shops and restaurants. Not far is the former public weighing house dating back to 1643 that still shows a part of the ancient walls. Bolzano Cathedral is a massive Gothic building. The tower is topped by a 65 m sandstone spire with ornamental tracery. The cathedral, which is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, can be visited Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.After free lunch the visit goes on to the south tyrolean wine road. With 300 days of sun a year, and a mild, alpine-Mediterranean climate, the landscape along the Alto Adige Wine Road is not only a popular holiday destination, but also the home of important wines.
The growing area along the Alto Adige Wine Road is the biggest in the region. The individual wineries form a complex mosaic. Due to the varying altitudes of between 200 and 1,000 metres, wine growers have the entire range of the micro climate and characteristic soils at their disposal. The wine growing areas from Bolzano via Nalles and to Salorno are characterised by their impressive variety of vines. Lagrein and Vernatsch, which is grown as St. Magdalener or Kalterersee wine, originate from this part of the country. In addition to these autochtonous vines, meanwhile, there is also the local variety Gewürztraminer and vines of international reputation like Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir also grow along the Alto Adige Wine Road. Visit to a wine cellar and tasting of wines and local products. Back to the Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
3° DAY: BRIXEN
After breakfast drive to Brixen.Brixen has always been of great importance as a bishop’ seat. Even today, this is noticeable in almost every corner of the city, which is characterised by many sacred structures. However, Bressanone also impresses with its landmarks, especially the elephant Soliman. The power of the bishops is demonstratively evident in the centre of Bressanone at the Domplatz square. Here you can visit the Cathedral of Bressanone and its magnificent interior rooms with 33 different sorts of the finest marble, a late Gothic Madonna and an organ with 3,335 pipes. You can also discover the adjacent Cloister: look up to view the magnificent Gothic frescoes.
A few steps from the cathedral, discover the perfectly preserved Bishop's Palace, the Hofburg. From the middle of the 18th century until 1973, the prince-bishops and later the bishops of the Diocese of Bressanone resided here. Today, the building houses the Diözesanmuseum with its 70 halls, depicting the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day. Immerse yourself in the past on a walk through the typical streets of the Old Town in the District of Stufels. This oldest part of the city with its historical buildings and landmarks provides a vivid picture of what it used to be like to live in Bressanone. Incidentally, an elephant plays a not insignificant role in the history of the city: Soliman, who spent two weeks in the city on his journey from India to Vienna in 1552. The Bressanone innkeeper Andrä Posch housed the animal in the stables of his inn, which he then renamed “Elephant”.
Just outside the walls of the episcopal city, it is worth visiting the Pharmacy Museum, which tells the twists and turns in the history of pharmacy over the centuries. Leaving the centre of Bressanone, you can admire the peaks of the Plose, the local mountain of Bressanone. After free lunch the visit goes on through an apple plantation. Covering a total of 18,500 hectares, South Tyrol forms Europe’s largest contiguous fruit-growing area. Six billion apples are produced here every year. For many centuries apple trees were planted around the farmsteads to provide for farming families. The construction of the railway line over the Brenner Pass and straightening of the river with reclamation of the floodplains boosted apple exports. The first fruit co-operatives appeared at the end of the 19th century and with them began marketing on a commercial scale. After the visit you will taste local products made of apple.
4° DAY: DOLOMITE TOUR
Breakfast and all day dedicated to the visit of the most charming places of the Dolomites. Corvara, Arabba, Passo Pordoi and Canazei are the most enchanting towns and during winter famous ski areas. You will admire the Dolomites with their impressive imposing height. Back to the Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
5° DAY: TRENTINO AREA
Breakfast and departure to Trento. This city spread out on the ancient ruins of the old Roman settlement and later developed under the influence of the Venetian, the Austrian and the Lombardic art. Visit to Palazzo Municipale, Palazzo Pretorio, the Cathedral and Castle Buonconsiglio. In the afternoon visit to Madonna di Campiglio, famous ski town surrounded by beautiful mountains. Back to the Hotel, dinner and overnight.
6° DAY: MERANO
Breakfast and visit of Merano. As the second largest urban center in the province of South Tyrol, Merano/Meran is well known for its cultural diversity. The harmonious mix of Italian Mediterranean and Alpine traditions in South Tyrol contribute to the colorful lifestyn the spa tole iwn of Merano. Its urban development and vibrant multi-ethnic culture is manifested in the diverse architecture and local cuisine. The medieval arcades, castles and town gates in Merano bear witness to its historical role as a medieval center in Tyrol. The present-day thermal baths in the center are rooted in the 19th century tradition of Merano as a spa town. We suggest to spend 3 hours in wellness centre. Farewell dinner and overnight.
7 DAY: DEPARTURE
Request Info