If you’re planning a weekend or a complete holiday in Alto Adige here you can find a complete itinerary in between Vipiteno, Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) and Eggental (Val D’Ega), with many tips on where to sleep, where to eat and what to photograph.
As I’d already shared you on my Instagram page, in June I was invited to explore Alto Adige in collaboration with three Romantik Hotels, which I had the pleasure to photograph.
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Vipiteno – Sterzing
Where to sleep in Vipiteno Sterzing: Romantik Hotel Stafler
Per una vacanza all’insegna del Gourmet vi raccomando il Romantik Hotel Stafler, situato a pochi minuti da Vipiteno a Campo di Trens.
Managed by Angelika and Irene Stafler, Romantik Hotel Stafler appears to the visitor as a large complex with 700 years of history where you can find a farm with animals bred with love by the owners, a big garden where you can read and relax, a spa specialized in spine treatment and…
The Gourmetstube Einhorn
The cuisine is the real highlight of Romantik Stafler. Awarded with two Michelin stars, Peter Girtler is the chef of the Gourmetstube Einhorn and keeper of the kitchen secrets of South Tyrolean tradition. For my 27th birthday dinner, we had the chance to taste incredible recipes. A dinner I will never forget. A gem, for the palate and for the eyes, that you really shouldn’t miss.
What to see around Vipiteno Sterzing
Romantik Stafler provides its guests with e-bikes, with which you can literally get anywhere. The trail to Vipiteno is full of interesting sights, especially for photographers.
For my birthday on 3 June I “climbed” the Stanghe waterfalls in Racines, among the most popular sights around Vipiteno and easily reachable both by car and bike.
Near the hotel, I also visited the majestic Reifenstein Castle and the small village of Mareit (Mareta), 8km from Vipiteno. In Mareta, I recommend walking to the church to enjoy a unique view of the village and the valley.
As the village is surrounded by woods and rivers, we stopped for a picnic in Mareta, thanks to the basket full of South Tyrolean delicacies that Romantik Stafler had prepared for us. Depending on whether you’re going by bike or by car, the hotel will prepare different baskets or backpacks, which are always very photogenic!
Kloster Neustift – Novacella Abbey
A 25-minute drive from Vipiteno and close to Bressanone is the fascinating complex of the Augustinian Abbey of Novacella (Kloster Neustift), which is absolutely worth a stop. We passed through here while on the route that led from Romantik Hotel Stafler to Romantik Hotel Turm in Fié allo Sciliar.
2. Schlern-Rosengarten and Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi)
Moving from Bressanone to Bolzano, we find ourselves near one of the largest mountain ranges in South Tyrol that hosts a unique world Unesco heritage: Seiser Alm, the iconic Alpe di Siusi.
I remember the dew and the mountains that stood majestically in front of us. The famous little houses in the Alpe di Siusi surroundings were immersed in absolute silence. This is a bucket list place, which I recommend everyone to visit at least once in their life. You will find something magical in the air here, trust me.
Seiser Alm is easily reachable by the modern cableway that leaves directly from the village of Siusi. It’s practically impossible to access Seiser Alm by car as it is located within the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park.
These photos were taken at the Malga (alpine pasture) of the Pramstrahler family, owner of Turm Art hotel, the first Italian hotel that joined the Romantik chain years ago and of which I’m going to tell you about now.
Where to sleep in Völs am Schlern (Fié allo Sciliar)
For an art-themed vacation, I recommend you the Romantik Hotel Turm Art in Fié allo Sciliar, just a few minutes from Seiser Alm and easily reachable by car from Bolzano.
Run by Stephan Pramstrahler and his family, the Romantik Turm stands on 4 towers. A combination of rock (left intact) and walnut wood. A real “castle” of mysteries, a labyrinth.
The Romantik Turm is a pretty unique hotel. The burning passion for art, true soul of the hotel, translates into a collection of more than 2000 paintings. Walking through the corridors and halls, the hotel becomes a full immersion among contemporary works of art ranging from Joseph Beuys to Oskar Kokoschka, from Otto Dix to Paul Klee, up to Giorgio de Chirico and Renato Guttuso. I even came across a Picasso!
All the raw materials used in the hotel construction are from South Tyrol. The Pramstrahler family also produces four types of wines at the Maso Grottner and has handed down the famous South Tyrolean “bagno di fieno” (hay bath) for three generations.
3. Vacation in Eggental (Val D’Ega): Latemar, Rosengarten & Karersee Lake
Moving on the other side of the Catinaccio-Rosengarten group we were able to end this trip admiring the beauty of Val D’Ega, enclosed in the stunning Dolomites.
With the help of the guides of the Eggental Tourism Board we left for two excursions:
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the first on the Rosengarten mountains (Catinaccio), where we trekked up to Roda di Vaèl… to then return to the shelter to enjoy a nice plate of typical South Tyrol dumplings – the canederli!
- the second one on the Latemar mountains, where, unfortunately, we encountered bad weather but still felt like we were immersed in a lunar landscape.
Both mountain ranges can be reached by cableway. I suggest you get an Eggental Guest Card with which you can move easily in Val D’Ega (also on winter ski facilities).
For years I had wanted to see Lake Carezza with my own eyes and I must say that no photo will ever be able to do it justice. Both during the day and at sunset it offers such peace and magic. I had rarely witnessed before something so beautiful. Take your time when you decide to visit it because it’s really worth it.
Where to sleep in Nova Levante
For a stay immersed in nature, I recommend Romantik Hotel Post, which has a privileged panoramic view on the Latemar. The Wiedenhofer family made me truly feel at home and was really welcoming.
The peculiarity of the Romantik Post, which has been run in the family for 400 years, is the Quarter horses, bred with love and hosted in the Cavallino Ranch. You can see them running in front of the church that characterizes their land, once owned by the local municipality and then bought by the Romantik Post.
Georg, the owner, likes to define the Post as “a classic hotel in the Dolomites, as they once were. The South Tyrolean style and tradition here have never been interrupted, they only evolved”.
Among the things that I liked most (apart from the view on Latemar that took my breath away) of Romantik Post are the hay baths (“bagni di fieno”), typically South Tyrolean, and the light cuisine that characterizes the restaurant: it’s, in fact, possible to order a wellness menu that will perfectly satisfy the needs of those who want to regenerate and focus on personal wellness.
I hope I’ve made you fall in love with South Tyrol as much I fell in love with it. You can follow all the adventures of Romantik Hotels on IG with the hashtag #ExploreRomantik. A big thank you to Ella press office for this great adventure.
See ya on the next article!
Ire
Ps: don’t forget to check out my articles about Seehof Nature Retreat and Garberhof in Malles Venosta if you’re passionate about South Tyrol!
