Alpe di Siusi
Alpe di Siusi is among Europe’s largest mountain resorts, with fluffy snow all winter and mountain biking routes once it melts. With an area of 13,800 acres (5,600 hectares), this enormous plateau features almost 800 species of flora, picturesque countryside trails and snowy runs. Ski or snowboard on the slopes of this giant resort.
Organize ski lessons on the easy slopes for the kids and adult beginners. Let kids sled on nearly a dozen coasting trails. Snowshoe hike with friends through the Ciamin Valley and watch or participate in the challenging Sellaronda Skimarathon night ski mountaineering race. The Alpe di Siusi resort offers skiing and snowboarding equipment rentals. Enjoy the views and serene ambiance as you travel up the mountains by chairlift.
Hike through the rocky terrain in summer. Mountain bike up and down hills and enjoy views of the spectacular Alpine landscape.
Peruse the area’s bars and souvenir shops. Dine at one of the many restaurants in the towns for South Tyrolean specialties, which include apple strudel, the bright orange Aperol spritz cocktail and speckknödel (bread dumplings).
See the modern dove-shaped church of San Francesco decorated by snow in the nearby village of Castelrotto. See the quaint communes of Siusi and Tires al Catinaccio.
Savor the return of bright colors to the countryside as the snow melts away in May. Yellow, purple and blue flowers begin to decorate the green undulating hills. Make your way south for the scenic trails of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park.
Note that each commune has both an Italian and a German name due to the proximity to southern Austria and the merging of the two communities over the centuries. The ski season runs from the beginning of December until the start of April.
Alpe di Siusi is in the the province of Bolzano in northern Italy’s Dolomites. Visit nearby vacation villages of Compaccio and Fiè allo Sciliar featuring more Dolomite skiing. Fly to Innsbruck Airport in Austria, 80 miles (128 kilometers) to the north and connect via car, bus or a domestic flight to Bolzano Airport, an hour’s drive away.
