Archive for 'Mountains'

The mind-bending and heart-racing twists and turns of some of the roads that wind through the Alps have popped up on movie and television screens and again and again throughout the years, prompting both fear and excitement in viewers. For some, these images make people want to immediately pack their bags and go careening down these scenic and challenging roads on a bicycle or in a car themselves. Others never want to have to try and traverse them in their entire lives. If you fall into the former category and you are a bit of a daredevil, then one of the most extreme and thrilling of these roads that must be visited and experienced is, without a doubt, the Stelvio Pass in South Tyrol. With lots of excellent hiking, skiing, winter sports, and exploring options and pursuits also available in the area, a villa in South Tyrol and a vacation in this part of Italy, in general, will definitely ensure that your next holiday is a real adventure. However, if you're interested in the Stelvio Pass, in particular, then be sure to read on...

If you're looking to vacation in Italy and to go hiking and take in stunning mountain views, then you could choose no better holiday destination than South Tyrol. Browse our vacation rentals in South Tyrol and come explore this northern region of Italy with its backdrop of towering snow-capped peaks in the Alps, idyllic rolling green valleys full of wildflowers, cute little Alpine villages with traditional cabins and chalets, excellent ski resorts, wonderful hiking routes, and impossibly beautiful landscapes. Among all of the natural gems that one can discover if they have found a villa in South Tyrol and are taking the time to thoroughly investigate the area, one of the most breathtaking and astounding sights has to be Pragser Wildsee.

Pragser Wildsee, also known as Lake Prags and Lake Braies, is often called the, “Pearl of the Alps,” and is a lake in the Prags Dolomites in South Tyrol. Due to the emerald green/blue colour of the lake and the surrounding beauty of the trees, mountains, and little beaches that frame the lake, it has become a major tourist attraction for those who wish to immerse themselves in nature and hike in an incredibly scenic destination. There are paths leading all around the banks of the lake that can be readily tackled by any hiker, no matter their level of skill or experience, and the loop takes just 90 minutes in total.

To the very north of Italy, where it borders with France, Switzerland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia, you will find the majestic Alps. This part of the world is a stunning kaleidoscope of towering craggy blue peaks, lush green valleys, pastures filled with a rainbow diverse flora and fauna, pretty little villages perched up high, and rivers winding down slopes in glittering silver lines. This is where you will take in the freshest air you can imagine, sip the clearest, tastiest water from fountains and natural sources, and admire the most jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring views of your life.

If you want to get a taste of the Alps for yourself on your trip to Italy but maybe aren’t up for a whole holiday of hiking, then find a vacation rental in the Val D’Aosta and head along the via Valpelline-Comba d'Oren-rif Nacamuli, take the A5 motorway, leaving at Aosta Est, follow the route for the Sant Bernard tunnel, pass the village of Valpelline, head towards Place Moulin, and tackle the stunning Mont Brulé.

When it comes to outdoor adventures, there are many that suit only one time of year; beaches are most enjoyable in summer, hiking is most pleasant in spring and autumn. However, some outdoor adventure destinations are set up to suit different purposes and are an excellent idea no matter when you visit. Take, for example, Mottolino Fun Mountain, set high in the Italian Alps above Livigno. This adventure park adapts to the time of year and is a ski area or a bike park, depending on the season. So, if you have found a vacation rental in the Northern Italian Ski Region and want to have a holiday in the Italian Alps, no matter what time of year you are going, you will find that there will be adventures to be had at Mottolino Fun Mountain. Explore the stunning landscape of the Italian Alps while having fun outdoors!

From early June to late September (check the Mottolino website for exact dates on any given year, as they can vary), the park is a bike park that offers fourteen different routes for people at various ability levels, a jump area, a slopestyle area, an air bag to practice jumping and tricks, and a north shore area – where you can test your balance and try your first jumps. Opened during the 2005 MTB World Cup, the bike park has quickly become a meeting point for all downhill and freeride mountain bikers from all over Europe. Inexperienced riders can also come and enjoy the thrills too, however, as you can rent all of the items and safety equipment that you might need and there are trained guides from the Freeride Bike School who can come along with you to discover the Mottolino Bike Park trails. Plus, the range of trails for beginners and pros makes it easy to learn and progress.

Capri is one of those famously gorgeous places that people are just dying to see with their own eyes. If you have found a vacation rental in Capri and are busy exploring the island, once you have walked around a bit, you may want to see it all from above as well, to take in a sweeping view over everything at once. In this case, you’ll need to head to Monte Solaro, the highest and most panoramic point on the island, which offers views over the whole of the Gulf of Naples, glimpses over the Gulf of Salerno on clear days, and also takes in many of Capri’s famous landmarks at the same time.

There are two different options to surmount Monte Solaro, depending on your inclination, energy, preferences, fears, and the day in question: you can hike to the top or you can take the famous Anacapri Chairlift.

At 589 meters above sea level and at the top of a steep trail, the hike up to the pinnacle of Monte Solaro isn’t the most difficult in the world by any sort of stretch of the imagination. It is a well-marked trail that rewards viewers with lovely views the whole way up and can be completed in around an hour. Beginning at Piazza della Pace in Anacapri, behind the cemetery, it is a straightforward climb up that anyone who is relatively fit should be able to complete without much difficulty.