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Join me on a gourmet adventure in South Tyrol

This weekend I’m heading off to South Tyrol in northern Italy (not to be confused with North Tyrol which is in Austria). I’ve heard that the landscapes are stunning in this region which borders Austria and Switzerland and has a fusion of cultures since it was part of Austria until 1919 and also has its own Latin dialect. German is as widely spoken here as Italian and every town has both a German and an Italian place name so I’m expecting to find a combination of Germanic efficiency and Italian joie-de-vivre.

Join me on a gourmet adventure in South Tyrol

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Since I completed the Tour de Mont Blanc last September the Dolomites have been on my wish list and I’m planning to do some hiking with a difference on one of the Via Ferrata routes. These “Iron Roads” are mountain routes joined by sections of wires and ladders which were originally designed for soldiers who needed to traverse difficult terrain. I’ve never done one before so I’m quite excited about the challenge of getting on my boots and helmet and trying out this combination of hiking and climbing – there is plenty of information about hiking and climbing in South Tyrol on the Sentres website

Via Ferrata routes in the Dolomites Photo: Sentres.com
I’ll be trying out one of the Via Ferrata routes in the Dolomites

I’ll also be trying some gentler outdoor activities, exploring some of the wineries and vineyards close to Lake Caldaro or Kalterersee by bike – hopefully I won’t be too wobbly by the end of the day! South Tyrol is well known for vineyards and wineries producing high quality wines so I’m sure there will be plenty of tasting opportunities as I cycle on the South Tyrol Wine Road.

Cycling and wine tasting on the South Tyrol Wine route Photo: suedtirol.info
I’ll be tasting some wines as I cycle on the South Tyrol Wine route

The region is also known for gastronomy, with no less than 20 Michelin star restaurants as well as plenty of farm shops and restaurants serving the produce of the region – I’m expecting dishes using local apples and raspberries, cheeses and speck (cured ham) and the famous Knödel dumplings – check out the video on how to make them below or here on YouTube.

There should be time to visit the regional capital of Bolzano or Bozen (all the places have Italian and German names) where I’ll be staying at boutique Hotel More Magdalener and I want to find out how Italian fashion and design has found inspiration in the nature and mountainous landscapes of South Tyrol.

South Tyrol Map
This is where you’ll find South Tyrol – the north-east corner of Italy

I’m be travelling with my blogging friends Abi from Inside the Travel Lab and Zoe from The Quirky Traveller and we’ll be using the hashtag ‪#‎insouthtyrol‬ so you can follow what we’re up to over the weekend. I hope you’ll join us on a virtual tour of South Tyrol – there’s plenty more information too on the Visit South Tyrol – UK website

Follow Heather on her travels’s board South Tyrol on Pinterest.

What Abi and Zoe had to say

Zoe: There’s much more to South Tyrol than the mighty Dolomites
Abi: You won’t believe it’s Italy

Information, articles and resources for South Tyrol

For more information to plan your own visit, find accommodation and discover all the things to do in South Tyrol, visit the South Tyrol Tourism website and watch videos about the region on their YouTube channel. For updates on things to do in South Tyrol follow the South Tyrol Twitter and Instagram pages

CheeseWeb Article: Exploring Bolzano in South Tyrol, Italy – Guest post by Lee McIntyre
CheeseWeb Article: Farm Stays, Food and Wine in South Tyrol, Italy
Kindle Book: Life on a Gelato diet: Everyday expeditions with an American in Bolzano, Italy by Lee McIntyre £2.44

Photos courtesy of South Tyrol except Via Ferrata by Sentres.com

My thanks to the South Tyrol Tourism Board for their support* in this trip in collaboration with Travelator Media

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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Alex Schöppner

Tuesday 6th of January 2015

During a journey through south tyrol around St. Leonhard we will want see some wonderfull places. Do you have one or two tips for us? Thank you, Alex!

Heather Cowper

Tuesday 6th of January 2015

@Alex I think you will be close to Merano which although I didn't visit I believe is a very attractive town and a great spa which is one of the main attractions. My friend Zoe at Quirky Traveller also loved the wonderful castle and botanic garden at Trautmansdorff Castle.

Marianne Lin

Sunday 14th of September 2014

Hi Heather! Thanks for sharing. I'd love to try out the Via Ferrata route. It seems challenging. And the dumplings made me want to eat some really. I hope you had a great time!

Heather Cowper

Sunday 14th of September 2014

@Marianne I'll be writing about the Via Ferrata route I did very soon - it was one of the highlights of the trip. In the meantime there are plenty of photos of me doing it on my Flickr site

Alison

Friday 5th of September 2014

Thanks for sharing our South Tyrol articles Heather. I hope you have a fantastic time! (I'm sure you will because it's a stunning region.) We loved the wine, food, scenery, and especially the people!

Heather Cowper

Friday 5th of September 2014

@Alison Thanks, I'm looking forward to our trip