Winter Tuffalm/Malga Tuff

Tuffalm/ Malga Tuff lies in the breathtaking and beautiful Seiser Alm Nature Park/ Scillar Nature Park. You will be spoilt by a choice of many  hiking paths for every family.

We usually leave our car near the lake of Voels am Schlern/ Fie' allo Scillar at 1.036m (last time we've been there it cost 3 euros per day). 
The sledge slope starts near the car park and is very well sign posted. You will find that all the paths are well maintained even in winter and good walking boots will suffice.

The slope is 1.5 km long and it takes about 45 mins to get there. It is possible to hire a horse carriage to get there. You'll find it near the lake at the start of the path. 

The difference in altitude level is 214m and the path difficulty is described as medium. 

You can get the sledges free of charge at Malga Tuff, although we were once asked to pay.

Beware of the fact that Tuffalm is only open from the 26 of December until the beginning of March. For more information visit their website below, although it's only in German and Italian for the time being.

At the end of your walk/sledge ride you can go ice skating on the lake, but you must bring your own skates.

How to get there:

From Trento take the A22 towards Brennero, take the exit Bolzano Nord/Bozen Nord towards SS12, then turn into SP24 towards Voels am Schlern/ Fie' allo Scillar. Park at the car park near the lake where you will find the Nature Park info point as well.

Duration: it depends on you, from half a day to a whole day trip.


Level: easy to medium;


Refreshments and toilet facilities: the restaurant near the lake and Tuffalm.

Useful websites:


http://www.pitschlmann.it/tuffalm/



http://www.voels-am-schlern.com/

Laabalm/ Malga Laab near Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente

Malga Laab, situated at 1649m above the sea level, is a kind of small no thrills little place very popular with the locals, therefore an excellent choice if you want to experience the real South Tyrol.

From where we park it takes us usually about 45 minutes (1.5 km long, the difference in the altitude is 200m) to get to the malga. We have our hot tea with cakes, after which we borrow their sledges to go down the slope. It is about 15 minute long exhilarating ride back to the car park.

How to get there:

By car from Trento take the A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano. Take the exit at Egna/ Neumarkt/ Ora/ Auer/ Cavalese and follow the indications for Deutschnofen/ Nova Ponente.

We follow the indications for Malga Laab and park near the woods at the DIY (it seems) car park called Buehlhof. Basically, when you get to Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente, turn left towards the ski lifts, pass them on your left and follow the road for about 1km until you get to the car park.

Duration: from half day to one day 

Level: easy path leading up to the Malga, although 45 minute walk can be long for some children. It's about 1.5km long.

Refreshments and toilet facilities: at Malga Laab

Malga Laab tel. 0471 616733

Florian in Seiseralm/Alpe di Siusi

Seiseralm/Alpe di Siusi is the largest mountain plateau in Europe, very popular with tourists both, in summer and in winter. We've been there in winter on many occasions and we loved it because it's very well organised and they have great facilities for families.

 

The starting point is at the ski lift Florian. You have the option of either taking your own sledges/toboggan or renting them out when you buy your tickets (you can pay at the ski lift down in the valley station in Saltria and you get them on top of the Florian mountain (2100m above the sea level). Here's the website of the Florian ski lift in English with all the prices etc.  

From Williams Huette follow the indications for the toboggan slope and go down towards Tirler where you can stop for tea/coffee and then follow further on towards Saltria. Leave your sledge near the Hotel Roasalpina.

How to get there:

Not having a car here is both a blessing and a curse. No cars obviously means cleaner air, little traffic, unspoilt landscapes. But getting here by cable car is quite expensive. You can, however, get a bus to Kompatsch or Saltria or you can come here by car but only within certain hours (before 9 a.m. or after 5p.m). If you are staying at one of the hotels in Seiser Alm, you'll get a speciall pass to allow you to drive up to Seiser Alm/ Aple di Siusi.

By car: From Trento follow A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano, take the exit Bozen Nord, follow the indications for Seiseralm/ Alpe di Siusi.

By bus or train: For how to get there by bus or train please sea the link below.
http://www.seiseralm.it/en/service/arrival/

By bus and cablecar: For the link for timetable for bus connections and the cable car from Seis am Schlern/ Siusi allo Sciliar to Seiseralm/ Alpe di Siusi please see the link below.
http://www.seiseralmbahn.it/en/arrival/

Level: easy

Refreshments and toilet facilities: in various malghe (alpine mountain huts), for example: Williams Huette, Zallinger or Tirler;

Useful websites: 

http://www.seiseralm.it/en/

http://www.florianlift.it/en/chairlift-florian/

Sledging and winter walks in Obereggen

The region of Trentino and South Tyrol is a popular winter destination for skiers.

Not everyone, however, knows how to ski or likes this sport. We have discovered that there is plenty more on offer in this part of Italy, so there is no excuse for staying at home in winter.

Trentino and South Tyrol differ in how they approach the snow activities. In South Tyrol you will find many paths prepared for winter walks and sledge slopes taken care of daily. Sledges are often provided free of charge. In Trentino they don't have the same culture. The sledge slopes are scarce and winter paths are unprepared. Instead you can rent a pair of snowshoes and go for a walk. It's a very popular sport in winter but not very suitable for small children. Therefore, if you are a family, we would advise you to go to South Tyrol. You don't need there any special snowshoes, the paths have beaten snow and, as always in South Tyrol, you'll find plenty on offer for children.


All our suggestions of sledging slopes can double as excellent winter walks destinations.

Oberregen is one of the most popular ski resorts of the Dolomites.It offers a variety of winter walks and at least 3 sledge slopes. We've done only one of them.

The starting point is at Epircher Laner Alm at above the sea level. Here you can have something warm to eat or drink. You have to bring your own sledges or rent them at the starting point near the ski lifts in the valley. You won't find any sledges in Laner Alm. 

The slope is 2.5km long and it takes about 45 minutes -1 hour to walk up here from down in he valley. (The difference in altitude is about 280m.) If you don't want to walk, you can take a ski lift "Ochsenweide" from the valley towards Epircher. The slope is rated as easy-medium and we advise you to go slowly on the bends. The path has safety fencing and is separated with a fence from a pedestrian path.

What's interesting about this sledge slope is that you can go sledging at night on certain days as well. The days are: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7pm to 22pm and that's when the path is illuminated and the ski lifts are open as well.

How to get there: from Trento take the A22 towards Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord.  Follow the indications for Eggental/Val d'Ega and Obereggen. You'll find there plenty of places to park.

Duration: full day

Level: easy to medium

Refreshments and toilet facilities: in Oberregen and Epircher/Laner Alm

Useful websites:

http://www.obereggen.com/en/how-to-reach.html

Practical information for winter walks and sledging:

Going down with your sledges and winter walks are both a lot of fun but you have to be aware of some important points.

1. Dress accordingly, better more layers than you can take off than less.
2. Take a warm thermos with you.
3. Take a change of socks.
4. When walking, always stay on the path; outside of the tracks the snow can be very deep and it's impossible to walk on such snow without proper snowshoes.
5. We normally each take one child with us on the sledge.
6. Hold them tightly, we have seen one mother loose her child. Luckily, all were unhurt.
7. If you topple over, go to the side of the slope as quickly as possible. Some people go down at high speed.
8. Use your legs to break or generally if you don't want to go too fast.

Brixen/ Bressanone Christmas Market

Brixen is a charming small town in South Tyrol that is worth a visit not only at Christmas time.

We went there on the night of the 5 December when they celebrate the visit of S. Nikolaus. Having seen what they do on that day, we would think twice before taking our children to see it again. Nevertheless, it was very interesting and funny, maybe just not suitable for our sensitive munchkins.

We saw a group of teenagers running and screaming. They were followed but those goat like creatures with the devilish faces covered in black soot. They would pretend (I hope) to beat up teenagers and adults and cover their faces with black paste. They were followed by the carriage of S.Nikolaus and another carriage with loud devilish music and red lights. It looked like a picture from Hell.

Brixen Christmas Market is open from 25th November 2010 to 6th January 2011. 

It's closed on 25th December and 1st of January. 

Opening times:  10am-7.30pm weekdays

9.30am - 7pm Sundays and holidays

Bozen/ Bolzano Christmas Market

It is probably the most popular of Christmas Markets in South Tyrol and Italy.

You'll find here all the things you'd expect to see at a Christmas Market: Christmas decorations, traditional food, live music etc. 
What's new this year is an additional stand where mums can breastfeed in privacy and in a warm place, or change their little ones. We've been to 7 other Christmas Markets in Trentino and South Tyrol this year and we havent' seen anything like it anywhere else so well done Bozen!

The Bolzano Christmas Market is open from 26th November to 23rd December 2010.

Mon to Fri: 10 am to 7.30 pm

Saturdays: 9am to 8pm

Sundays: 9 am to 7 pm

Miola di Pine'

If you are in Trentino around Christmas and you have some time to spare than we recommend a visit to Miola di Pine' near Baselga di Pine' in Val di Cembra. Every year this little village organises an interesting open air exhibition of various nativity scenes, scattered around the narrow village streets. During the time of "El Paes dei Presepi", as the exhibition is called,  you'll have a chance to try some of the region's traditional dishes and sweets. Other attractions include live music and farm animals. There is also a little competition in which you can win  one free entry ticket to the ice stadium. The way it works is at the beginning of your walk around Miola you get the booklet with the snippets of some of the figures from the nativity scenes. We got the booklet from a place right in the centre of Miola where the cribs are. During your walk you must spot the figures and put the correct stamp next to the picture in your book. My kids loved collecting all the stamps in their booklet and it added an interesting twist and some thrill to going and seeing the cribs.

Opening times 2010: 

4-5-6-7-8-11-12-18-19 December 2010 and from 26 December 2010 to 6 January 2011. If you go there between 2pm and 6pm you should be able to see something.

How to get there: from take the SS47 towards Pergine/Padova, then turn right into SP71  towards Baselga di Pine'. Follow the road that will take you up until you arrive in Baselga di Pine'. You can park your car in the car park near the lake.

Sterzing/ Vipiteno Christmas Market

It's definitely one of our favourite ones, shame it's quite far away from Trento.

You'll find here all the usual Christmas crafts and specialities. 

Here's the website with the opening times (German and Italian only):

http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-sterzing.com/