ON TOUR: Trentino, Italy
Well, with the skiing season looming, what better time to discover one of Italy”s more untouched places as regards to tourism.
Trentino, tucked between Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia in the north-east part of Italy, is home to the Dolomites and also includes famed Lake Garda.
Top ski resorts, which feel more Austrian Tirol than Italian, include Madonna di Campiglio, Valli di Fassa, Valli di Sole and Valle di Fiemme. Madonna di Campaglio is famed for its ability to attract the stars, including the likes of Alberto Tomba and various racing drivers, including Michael Schumacher.
The area, which is at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites, has traditional Dolomite charm and history and has been attracting tourists for over a century. Campiglio, just above Lake Garda, is also known for its boutique shops and range of fine restaurants.
The ski lifts of Madonna di Campiglio are connected with those of Folgarida and Marilleva in the Valli di Sole.
This area is above the Campiglio area and is complemented by Valli di Fassa and Valli di Fiemme in the east of Trentino.
As a whole, the region offers more than 1,500kms of slopes and ski areas within three distinct regions.
The whole region is well-known for its excellent Italian cuisine and is certainly not famous for offering up expensive pizzas and espressos to guests.
To get to Trentino from the UK you have to fly to Verona, Brescia or one of the Milan airports. Ryanair can help you out here to Brescia/Verona or Milan Bergamo, while British Airways, Easyjet and Alitalia will take you to the two main Milan airports of Linate or Malpensa.
Alternatively, if skiing and wintersports are not your thing, then the Trentino region is hosting a number Christmas markets. The main town of Trento, a medieval centre, hosts stalls and decorations in its Piazza Fiera, while Levico hosts various markets in its Parco delle Terme, which was set out by the Hapsburgs more than 100 years ago.
This untouched area of Italy is well worth considering for a trip and retains its unlike culture, and has not been overrun by Brits just yet.
http://www.trentino.to