• Once again we rode the cable car up from Lana to Vigiljoch and then the chair lift on up to the top of Mount San Vigilio for more refreshing hiking in the magnificent mountains. We never tire of the serenity of these paths through the forest, on top of the world, listening to the clanging of cow bells and stopping at a small inn or refuge on the way for lunch or a Forst beer. You might even want to stop at the Forst brewery when you get back down to the bottom of the mountain.

• Our favorite chapel of the Cappuccini monks was closed for restoration this year, but we were able to spend some time visiting the cathedral in Bolzano, the capitol of the area. The medieval cathedral is complete with all the requisite carvings, stained glass and incredible artwork. Well worth a visit.

• Castle Tirol in the village of Dorf Tirol gives this entire region its name. Full of history, with ancient frescoes and sculptures and panoramic vistas of the valley below (pictured at left). The village is delightful, as is the chair lift ride from Merano and the pleasant stroll to the castle from the center of the village.

• It was difficult to drag ourselves away from the great food at the Graf, but from time to time we had to satisfy our pizza cravings. Pizzeria Marinara, just a block from the hotel, served us consistently good food in a true pizzeria environment, complete with red-checkered tablecloths.
• Another culinary treat we never miss is a local specialty, Kaiserschmarren. It's like scrambled pancakes, served with a warm compote of fruit in season; cherries in the summer and apples in the fall--Delicious! It's particularly nice at Hotel Vigiljoch, when enjoyed on the sunny terrace overlooking the valley below and the Dolomites beyond.

Hotel Graf von Meran
I-39012 Merano, via delle Corse, 78
Tel: +39 0473.232.181
Fax: +39 0473.211.874
Would we stay here again? Definitely

There is so much to do in this area, and we discover more every time we go there.

For sporting enthusiasts you can't go wrong. In the summer you can go white water rafting on the Adige/Etsch river, hiking in the Alps, mountain biking, and lots more. In the winter there is plenty of good skiing of course, along with all the other winter sports you would expect from an area that once hosted the Winter Olympic Games.

And wine lovers won't want to miss harvest season in the South Tyrol, when all the new Pinot Grigios fresh from the barrels are ready for tasting. In fact, no one should miss harvest season; it's a combination apple/wine harvest fair and Oktoberfest all rolled into one with huge parades and festivals in all the villages. Just be sure to book early because rooms fill up quickly during this exciting annual celebration.

There's lots more to see and do. For details on some of the villages and valleys and for more hotel information, check out our South Tyrol section of the Portafortuna Travel Pages. Or give the folks at Gapp Touristik Incoming a call or fax and they'll set you up with a whole itinerary for experiencing the best of their homeland.