A Quick Tour of Italy - the Alto-adige Subregion

If you are planning a tour of Europe, you should consider Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Italy, on the border of Switzerland and Austria. Among its attractions are the Dolomite mountains, the famous architect Le Corbusier called "the most beautiful piece of architecture even seen," glacial lakes and alpine forests. This beautiful region is composed of two parts, in the south and Trentino Alto Adige in the north. This article presents Alto Adige, a companion article presents Trentino.Alto Adige residents must declare their first language: choices include Italian (26.5%), German (69%) and Ladin (4%). There is a German-speaking majority in more than 100 of the 116 communes. Tourists can enjoy the two cultures.Caldaro (Kaltern), population about 7500, annually attracts over 400,000 tourists. Its architecture combines the Italian Renaissance and German Gothic elements as demonstrated in the historic church of Santa Caterina in the city center. The Cauldron Lake claims to be the hottest in the Alps and is welcome from May to September. Visit the Provincial Wine Museum located in a princely manor.The horticultural center Naturno (Naturns), with a population of some five thousand, boasts the seventh century Church of San Procol with fresh among the oldest in the area German-speaking world. The drive west to Reinhold Messner of the thirteenth century Castel Juval. Messner was the first person to climb Mount Everest solo and the first to climb without further oxygen.The capital Bolzano (Bozen), population about 100,000 people, many speaking German, Italian, but most of the speakers. The South Tyrol Archaeological Museum in Oetzi is the star attraction, the more than five thousand years iceman found in Italy near the border with Austria in 1991. The Gothic Duomo (cathedral) was built in the period from the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. The city has many ancient churches, two large squares, and a beautiful stroll along the vineyard on the outskirts of the city and along the river in the heart of town.Cortina d'Ampezzo is rather an elegant resort in winter. Cortina was supposed to host the Winter Olympics in 1944, but because of World War II had to wait until 1956. Known as "The Pearl of the Dolomites", which sits in a meadow near 4000 feet (1.2 kilometers) above sea level surrounded by mountains. Cortina was the scene of many popular films like The Pink Panther and eye Only.Alto Adige cuisine tends to be Austrian Tyrol. Popular wursts include food, dishes, cabbage, dumplings, and potatoes. Pork is great, especially Speck, a smoked ham from Austria. The San Leonardo, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is said to be quite good but not cheap.
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