The South Tyrolean holiday region is what you call a tourist jack-of-all-trades. The region, which includes the South Tyrolean Wine Route, South Tyrol's southernmost tip, Sarntal, Ritten, Mölten, Jenesien and the area around the Trudner Horn Nature Park, is characterised by both Alpine and Mediterranean influences. And the north-south mixture not only flourishes in the landscape, but above all in the culture and cuisine.

Holidays on a farm in Bolzano and environs

Numerous farmers on the South Tyrolean Wine Route and in the extreme south of the region grow fruit and vines. Farms are surrounded by vineyards and apple orchards even in the steepest places. A third of all South Tyrolean apples come from this region. Bolzano and the surrounding area thus makes a significant contribution to the fact that South Tyrol is the largest closed fruit-growing area in Europe. The area south of Bolzano is even more closely associated with first-class red and white wines. Almost 70 percent of the region's total wine-growing area lies here. A bite into a local apple or a visit to one of the numerous wineries is a good idea.

But agriculture was not always the strongest economic mainstay. In previous centuries, the area on the Etsch was an important transit area for traders and travellers, resulting in political importance and wealth. This is evident not only from the fact that one of the areas with the most castles in Europe can be found here, but also from the numerous historical village centres that were designed by Tuscan and Venetian master builders. Culturally, however, there is still more to see. In addition to the numerous village festivals, concerts and other events, a visit to Ötzi, the world-famous ice mummy, in the South Tyrolean Archeology Museum in Bolzano is particularly worthwhile during a holiday in an apartment or a room in the south of South Tyrol. The charming province capital of Bolzano impresses visitors with its unique Italian charm and will stick in your memory primarily for its historical centre.

The contrasting landscape is also a highlight in itself. On endless hiking trails along the sun-drenched high plateaus you can enjoy the Alpine scenery, while on the hills of Castelfeder you feel as if you have been transported to Greece. At Lake Kaltern, the Montiggl lakes and the Eppan Ice Holes, nature also shows its most diverse side. Numerous wineries and residences nestle among the gently rolling hills near Bolzano. In the Montiggl forest nature reserve, the largest local recreation area in South Tyrol, there are plenty of activity options.

Holidays with tradition

In Ritten and Sarntal valley, the Mediterranean-southern influences stay more in the background. In this area near the capital of the region, you can truly speak of Alpine culture and nature. Traditional villages and individual farms lie scattered between mountain forests and Alpine meadows. The climate here is slightly cooler than further south, which is why wealthy people from Bolzano had summer cottages built on the Ritten plateau as early as the 17th century in order to spend the hot summer months here. A hike to the natural wonder of the Ritten earth pyramids was part of the annual holiday itinerary back then and still makes a worthwhile excursion today. Nowadays, the holiday apartments and rooms in Bolzano and the surrounding area are worth a trip all year round.

Rustic Sarntal valley, on the other hand, was only opened up to tourists much later. For a long time, the Sarner people lived from handicrafts, livestock and Alpine farming. The valley still features some keen traditional quill embroiderers and the people here also pay a lot of attention to old arts and crafts. A large number of customs and festivals are celebrated here just as they were a hundred years ago. Away from the villages, hikers and mountain bikers will find themselves in a real paradise.

A showcase of nature

The landscape around the Trudner Horn Nature Park and Salten in the south of South Tyrol has received more than its fair share of attention from Mother Nature, and diverse flora and fauna thrive here. In the nature park alone, hikers can enjoy 400 kilometres of marked hiking trails and a visitors' centre is open to anyone keen to learn more about the local plants and animals. So, on a farm holiday in Bolzano and the surrounding area, it's worth lacing up your hiking boots. You should also plan a detour to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Bletterbach Gorge - a showcase of geological history and the "mini Grand Canyon of South Tyrol". On the Salten plateau, horse lovers and leisurely hikers will feel particularly at home between the mountain villages of Mölten and Jenesien. This gentle mountain ridge is also well known for its breathtaking crocus blossoms in spring.

What does a farm holiday in Bolzano and the surrounding area have to offer?

• Merging of north and south in nature and culture
• Sprawling high plateaus and charming wine regions
• A multifaceted and lively province capital