The Dolomites Mountains are dramatic, majestic and at times overwhelming, with the eastern Alps meeting them. Recent study has shown that the eastern Dolomites are actually coral formations that were under an ancient seabed. Most of the Dolomites, locally known as the Dolomiti, belonged to Austria but were handed over to Italy after World War I. These majestic mountains stretch north along the Adige River valley between Lombardy and Veneto. But the change in territorial borders hasn’t changed the people of these regions are most of them are more like Austrians than the Italians. They eat Austrian food and speak not Italian but a local German dialect. This is true to the settlements of Bozen, Merano and Brixen. In some parts Ladin is spoken. This is a Latin dialect spoken by the Romansch of Switzerland. With soaring peaks and lush green meadows the Dolomites are a haven for hikers, skiers, and rock climbers. It is also a fabulous place to spend a few leisurely days exploring the towns and castles in this region.

Local Cuisines

The cuisine of the Alto Adige is more or less Austrian, with a few Italian touches. Canederli (bread dumplings) often replace pasta or polenta and are found floating in rich broths infused with liver; Speck (smoked ham) replaces prosciutto; and Wiener schnitzel Grostl (a combination of potatoes, onions, and veal -- the local version of corned beef hash), and pork roasts are among preferred secondi (second courses).

The Trentino has several good wines, both white and red, and the Adige Valley has proved an up-and-comer in recent vintages. Forst, a personal favorite in the fairly lowly pantheon of Italian beers, has been brewed outside Merano since 1857.