Trentino-Alto Adige is the northernmost region of Italy. Although there are some beautiful towns, the region is best known because of its mountains, with the Dolomites in the Southeast and the Alps in the north. Trentino-Alto Adige is divided into the provinces Trento and Bolzano. Its regional capital is Trento.
Trentino- Alto Adige travel guide
When to visit
In winter, the Trentino-Alto Adige region is extremely popular because of its ski resorts. As soon as spring arrives, and the snow starts to melt, hikers and bikers take over.
Moving around
The main artery is the A22, which bisects the region. It starts at the Brenner Pass and follows the river Adige, thus connecting the main cities Bolzano and Trento. The far more scenic S12 runs more or less parallel to the A22, and is especially liked by cyclists.
Public transport is excellent, with railway lines between the major cities and bus connections to and from the smaller towns.
A brief history of Trentino-Alto Adige
The region is rather young. The two provinces were ceded to Italy in the early 20th century and both provinces collect and spend their own taxes. Much of this income is used to protect its vast nature reserves and its traditional artisan industries, both essential in keeping its tourist industry flourishing.
The region was part of the Holy Roman Empire from the 8th century. Later it became part of, first, the Austrian Empire and, later, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its annexation by Italy took place in 1919.
Although the landscapes are similar, the two provinces have clearly different cultural identities. In Trentino Italian is the first language, while for most inhabitants of Bolzano this is German. There is also a minority language called Ladin, with different dialects in different parts of the region.
Shopping
Edible and drinkable souvenirs are especially cheese, wine and grappa.
Curiosities
Trentino Alto-Adige is one of the least densely populated regions of the country. While in most of the province of Trento the main language is Italian, in Bolzano this is German. The German name of the province and its capital city is Bozen.