Ties between German and Italian Culture.

The limestone peaks of the Dolomites frame an area of castles, lakes and ancient spas, with its own distinctive mix of Italian and German culture.

This mountainous region wich stretches North to the Italian-Austrian border first came to the attention of tourists in the English speaking world in 1837 when John Murray the London publisher brought out a handbook for travellers. The books description of the Dolomites sparked interest particularly among mountaineers who had conquered the Swiss Alps and were looking for new challenges.

Today, Trentino-Alto Adige ( also know as the South Tyrol) is a popular holiday retreat for hikers, skiers and water sports enthusiasts and is marked by contrasts in the landscape as well as in the culture.

Trentino-Alto Adige actually consists of two different provinces. Trentino, historically a part of Italy except for a period during the 19th and early 20th Centuries when it was ruled by Austria, has a definite Italian flair. Alto Adige, on the other hand was a part of the Austrian Tyrol for six centuries, first becoming an Italian domain in 1919 when the Austro-Hungarian empire was carved up and the European borders were redrawn.