Tuesday 23 June 2009

Dolomites - Trentino region - not only skiing

Winter promises not only skiing and many activities in unspoilt natural surroundings, but also relaxation, great exhibitions, events, the pleasures of the table, well-being…

Winter in Trentino means snow, but also nature, relaxation, flavours, events, art and well-being. Skiing in Trentino is terrific, but not everything.
Needless to say you can enjoy all the opportunities offered on the snow: Alpine skiing, cross-country, snowboarding, ski touring, snow-shoeing, Nordic walking, plus skating, sleddogging and ice-climbing. Almost 800 km of pistes, technologically advanced lift passes, two circuits only (Skirama and Dolomiti Superski) covering nearly the whole region, about a dozen fun parks for board enthusiasts, enchanting routes through woods and on plateaus, silent peaks to explore on touring skis, 500 km of trails and about twenty centres for cross-country skiing. And what else? Over 300 modern lifts, programmed snowmaking covering 90% of the pistes, hotels and other accommodation establishments boasting a potential of over 400 thousand beds of excellent quality divided between 1551 hotels, 174 guest houses and then camp-sites, agritours, B&Bs and second homes. Not only excellent lodging, but also board: here wines are superb and local dishes delicious. Overall we thank nature: statistics show that snowfalls are abundant (on average 4 metres at an altitude of 2,000m) and eight out of ten days are sunny. Families seeking snow will find a great number of packages and services planned specifically for them. For example free lift passes and discounts. There are also Kindergartens where infants are looked after by qualified staff.

In Trentino it doesn’t take much to be filled with a feeling of effervescent pleasure: strolling in a Nature Park, recognising the scents of the forests, admiring the superb panoramas. As scientific studies have shown the body gains important benefits from even a brief stay at a medium altitude, between 1000 and 2000 metres. Not only: at the same time the mind is regenerated and everyday stress is forgotten, perhaps while listening to a babbling brook, or admiring the peaks as they turn pink in the setting sun, or breathing in the mountain air, or sipping the water of spring.

Not to be forgotten the three Nature Parks in Trentino (Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino, Adamello-Brenta and Stelvio) that also offer visitors a rich calendar of activities and events in winter.

As a fitting complement to the outstanding Alpine environment, Trentino boasts hotels able to ensure the best in the field of well-being, those with the sign “Vita Nova – Trentino Wellness”. Here the guest will find an oasis entirely dedicated to relaxation and fitness with gyms and equipped rooms, various kinds of saunas, special water jets and showers, pools and Jacuzzis , a beauty centre with qualified staff and a wide range of personalised treatments.
The spas also offer well-being treatments and together constitute a real health circuit. Four of these are open in winter.

First nature, then history forged this land leaving an indelible mark of art and culture. Lying between northern Europe and the Mediterranean, Trentino has been a country of transit and encounters since ancient times and therefore has many layers of styles and memories. Today monuments, churches, castles and small elegant towns remain. First and foremost Trento, the capital of the province, renowned for having hosted the longest and most famous Council of the Catholic Church (1545 – 1563). There are 17 museums of considerable importance scattered throughout Trentino and many small collections and displays in the civic museums. The two main museums, Buonconsiglio in Trento and the Mart in Rovereto, constantly host international exhibitions.

Worth mentioning is the “Fiemme Ski Jazz”, the most important jazz festival on the snow in the whole of the Alps, held in mid-March.

Various types of traditional and extremely attractive events are held during Christmastime and Carnival. The atmosphere created around the street markets is really incomparable: the coloured lights, sounds and scents around the stalls selling local products announce the arrival of Christmas in many towns and villages.

At Carnival, instead, ancient, pagan rites resurface in the popular folk traditions. Not to be missed the traditional Ladinian masks.

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