“Buona sera, signora,” a cheerful white-haired man greets me as he takes my luggage and shows me to my sleeper cabin on the Espresso Cadore. After the train departs Roma Termini station, I head to the train’s bar car to grab a glass of prosecco to kick off my trip to the Dolomites—to ski on Italy’s famed Olympic slopes. As I pass through the red pl...
READ MOREWhen you first arrive in magical Ortisei, you might feel like you’re in the Bavarian Alps or castle-strewn Austria. But despite its distinct alpine vibe and soundtrack of clanging cowbells, tiny Ortisei is actually part of Italy, located in the heart of the snaggle-toothed Dolomites. The largest of the towns that make up the Val Gardena - a string...
READ MOREA snowshoe hike through snow-covered forests and views of the Belluno Dolomites between Auronzo and Misurina, and a visit to Vigo and Lozzo di Cadore, smaller towns but full of interesting and original activities. Here are some ideas for enjoying the territory of the Tre Cime Dolomiti Tourist Consortium in Veneto to the fullest. This isn’t where yo...
READ MOREWith family celebrations taking up the winter holidays and the summer a perennial struggle to mesh everyone’s schedules, spring break in Italy can be a great alternative. Schools generally close at least once between March and April, and stay closed for a week (or slightly longer, if you count two weekends); flights are often cheaper during these s...
READ MOREIt’s a Friday afternoon in fall, and the A27 highway is deserted as small Italian villages and dormant farmland pass by the windows of our rental car. I’m focused on the true crime podcast coming through the speakers when the low layer of clouds suddenly parts. The gasp I make rattles my husband Topher, who jerks the wheel in concern that we’re abo...
READ MOREThere is always something exciting to do in the Dolomites, regardless of the season. This UNESCO site has gifts for everyone, whether seeking an adventurous getaway or simply wanting to disconnect and unwind in a panoramic spa. Here at Visit Italy, we've handpicked some accommodations in Trentino Alto Adige that cater to the specific needs of those...
READ MOREIt’s not like there are bad places to go in the Italian Dolomites, but a few areas seem to have a little something extra — a more dramatic position amid the mountain ranges, a closer proximity to the slopes, a chicer culinary scene, a more exclusive vibe, and just a wee bit more of that heart-stopping beauty. Almost unfairly, Cortina d’Ampezzo has...
READ MOREWhen I first visited my tiny ancestral village in the Trentino-Alto Adige 40 years ago, emotions ran as high as the Dolomite mountain peaks that surrounded me. The sheer beauty of the place my grandparents (nonni) left 60 years earlier when they immigrated to the United States left me breathless. And, the thought that my ancestors founded the littl...
READ MOREOf the key Alpine ski destinations, Italy offers the best value for money. Here, an espresso can cost €1.50 a shot, and a piste-side plate of pasta €10-15, items that are often 70-100% dearer in the A-list ski areas of France. And a peak-week, February half-term holiday in a three-star hotel can come in less than €1,745 per person half board, inclu...
READ MORELocated in Italy’s northeastern corner, bordering Austria, the Dolomites have a distinct landscape, culture, and cuisine that’s completely different from what you’ll find elsewhere in Italy. Up there, rolling hills and olive trees are replaced by jagged limestone peaks and alpine meadows where cows graze. Weathered Mediterranean buildings are repla...
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