The area of Südtirol coincides with the Autonomous Province Bolzano and comprises the North area of the Autonomous Region Trentino-Südtirol. This is the only province in Italy which is entirely mountainous. Südtirol boasts an unpolluted territory of incomparable beauty, with many of the most imposing and charming mountain groups of the Dolomites, infinite passes, valleys, rivers and lakes; a landscape which constantly surprises, and is really worth discovering.
On the horizon you can see many famous giants such as the Three peaks of Lavaredo, may be the most representative Dolomite mountains, on the border with the province of Belluno; the wonderful Sassolungo group, overlooking the Val Gardena, the bare Catinaccio group, becoming red at sunset, the Sella group, a stone city lying among Trentino, Alto Adige and Bellunese; the impressive Sciliar and the imposing Latemar. These peaks are both a source of happiness and a challenge for mountaineers, hikers and skiers. Furthermore there are smaller but not less charming formations such as the earth pyramids which can be admired in Renon and Plata; but also the famous Alpe di Siusi, the broadest tableland in Europe, a real Dolomite Pearl.
In Südtirol there are many passes, such as Passo Gardena, between Val Gardena and Val Badia; Passo Sella, between Val Gardena and Val di Fassa in Trentino; Passo dello Stelvio, between Val Venosta and Valtellina, in Lombardy; and Passo di Monte Giovo, between Val Passiria and Valle Isarco. These are some of the most impressive alpine passes in the Dolomites, and it is a real pleasure to discover them by bike or motorbike.
Many waterways flow through this area, such as the rivers Adige and Isarco, the famous lakes of Caldaro and Braies, the Stanghe waterfalls and many more, which are very appreciated by sport lovers. Don’t forget that in Südtirol there are many natural parks, such as the Fanes Sennes Braies Natural Park , the Sciliar Catinaccio Natural Park and the Stelvio National Park.
The natural landscape is enriched by many small settlements, which are perfectly integrated in the territory. Many beautiful castles, forts and monasteries are a charming sign of the history of this land: the castles Castel Tirolo and Castel Roncolo, the fort in Fortezza, the abbeys in Novacella and Monte Maria, and the Sabiona monastery.
All cities and villages in Südtirol are characterized by a perfect balance of tradition and modernity, a strong feeling of the own cultural identity which can be observed in the way in which old traditions are preserved and in how nature and territory are respected. Bolzano is an autonomous province since 1972 and German is the mother tongue of over two thirds of its inhabitants, while the other spoken languages are Italian and Ladin.
