With its eighty 3000-metre-high peaks and superb runs; it is one of Europe’s most scenic skiing-areas. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, South Tyrol’s unique combination of Italian and Alpine culture provides a holistic experience and a bursting calendar of winter sports and culinary events.
The South Tyrol Christmas Markets – 24 November to 6 January
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There is something unique about a South Tyrolean Christmas market, where visitors can try local specialities, like Apfelglühmix, local apple juice boiled with orange juice and spices or Zelten, traditional fruit bread, typical for the Alto Adige region.
These charming Christmas markets offer an opportunity to find handcrafted Christmas gifts, such as warm felt slippers and cosy blankets, or decorations for the Christmas tree made of straw, wood and glass. If you want to experience something unusual, the Medieval Christmas market in Chiusa allows visitors to come across night watchmen, fire-eaters, jugglers and knights.
A Taste for Skiing – South Tyrol’s Gourmet Ski Safari
The popular Gourmet Ski Safari is back, starting on 11 December 2016. On this ski trip you can experience 12 ski areas featuring 1,200 kilometres (746 miles) of prepared pistes, in the breath-taking scenery of the Dolomites.
This culinary event involves 14 Michelin starred chefs taking up residence in huts in the Alta Badia ski region. Each of the chefs will create a unique recipe by mixing flavours and traditions from their own regions and home countries, and every dish will feature on the menu for the whole winter season at one of the mountain huts on the slopes.
A great opportunity for foodies and ski-lovers to explore the ski slopes of Alta Badia whilst savouring the very best international cuisine can offer.
The Dolomiti Balloon Festival
You can enjoy a flight with the hot air balloon over the beautiful Dolomites of the Alta Pusteria. The hour long trip lasts around half a day and is an excellent way of experiencing the beautiful nature of South Tyrol from above.
International Snow Sculpture Festival – Mid January 2017
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The Snow Sculpture Festival is held in San Candido/Innichen from the 11 to the 13 of January, and in San Vigilio from the 16 to the 18 of January 2017. Discover the enchanting atmosphere in the village during the festival, where the imaginative creations of snow are illuminated in the evening, creating a magical spectacle for spectators.
To prepare for the competitive festival, fresh snow from the surrounding area is compressed into cubes and worked on by ten international teams, who create magnificent pieces of ice art by hand.
Swing On Snow Winter Music Festival – 19 to 26 March 2017
For eight days, music takes over the ski slopes, huts and villages at the foot of the Sciliar Mountain. This is the Swing on Snow 2017 music festival, running for the 12th year in a row. The festival offers a mix of traditional folk music with jazz, soul, pop and classical music, and is a wonderful opportunity to for musical enjoyment in the beautiful scenery of the Dolomites, whilst combining it with skiing.
The bands play on the numerous ski slopes on the Alpe di Siusi in the morning, in the mountain huts at lunchtime and then in the villages of Castelrotto, Siusi, Fiè and Tires in the evening, hosting after-ski concerts, and moreover, the concerts are free. The mulled wine and cider is not however.
