Italian Alps
 

Hi, Any help would be appreciated. We have 7 days to see this region.(Bolzano, Cortina, Merano) and anything else you think we should see. Anything special that is not printed in a guide book. We will be there the last week in Sept. 2001.Where should we start ? We will be landing in Milan and will have a car.Hotels, rest. would also be helpful. Thanks... Myra

Karen Brown has an itinerary in her Italian book that you could follow with hotel suggestions as well. We liked Merano the best We stayed in Bolzano at the Griffone Hotel and just drove up to Merano (about 15 miles), but the next time we would stay in Merano, which is a walled spa town with a lovely walking path near the river. You can combine this trip with a stop in Verona and if you have interest in grappa, try to visit Bassono del Grappa on the way to Cortina. Be sure to drive the Dolomite Road from Bolzano to Cortina--fantastic views. It's a rather strange area of Italy in terms of food and language--very Germanic north of Trent--but beautiful mountains. Seven days should be plenty including Verona.

Myra: What Kam said plus Asolo, a picturesque little village near Bassano del Grappa; Castlerotto, tyrol like village with seven great hiking trails at the top of the world, and if you have time, Glurns/Glorenza (everything is in Austrian and Italian up here), an ancient village where time really did stand still. You will see life as it was in the middle ages: houses, shops, farms, barns, farm animals, people, all living within the intact village walls. More information on any of this if you desire.

Do a search on "Bassano" - - recent good thread on this neat place. <BR>

Myra, Starting in Milan, I would plan my route as follows--you figure out the days and nites in each: <BR>Riva del Garda <BR>The wine road north to Bolzano[ see the article under Trentino at initaly.com] <BR>Merano <BR>Ortisei[ Val Gardena] <BR>The Dolomite road to Cortina <BR>Asolo[ if you have time] <BR>That will be a great trip--have fun !

We'll be going through the Italian Alps as part of a trip in July that begins and ends in Munich. <BR> <BR>A couple days into our trip, driving from Salzburg, we will stop for two nights in Cortina d'Ampezzo, staying at the Hotel Mendari. Then after driving the Great Dolomites Road, we'll do two more nights in Castelrotto, staying at the Cavallino d'Oro. <BR> <BR>We're REALLY looking forward to exploring the area - the small towns... taking ski-lifts to the high country and hiking down, etc. <BR> <BR>Check out Karen Brown's website for places to stay. Rick Steves has some suggestions in his Italy guidebook. Give it a browse at the bookstore.