Our outdoor adventure to The Dolomites – a place in northern Italy like no other. The beauty and diversity of the landscape of the Italian Dolomites alone will enchant you – in every season. Packed with stunning views, small quaint villages, plenty of outdoor activities during every season, and a unique culture all its own.
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A trip north in July to get a break from the scorching heat in Tuscany was just what the doctor ordered. It also happened that good friends of ours just designed and purchased an amazing place in the town of Selva di Val Gardena. A charming town in every respect. They invited us to stay a few nights and explore the area they now call home while enjoying some outdoor adventures.
The day we went up on the Dantercepies ski lift it was a bit chilly. We stopped and all enjoyed a new favorite, a Bombardino!
Bombardino is a drink popular in Italy during the winter, especially in ski resorts. It is made by mixing 1/2 Advocaat or eggnog and 1/2 Brandy. It can also be made by mixing 3/4 of hot traditional Italian egg liquor and 1/4 of rum or brandy and served warm with whipped cream!
Dolomites were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The Dolomites are an impressive place with 18 prominent peaks and over 2,000 mountains (those are just the ones that are named).
Where Are The Dolomites Located?
If you’re thinking about venturing off the beaten path in Italy, why not explore the Dolomites (Italian: Dolomiti [doloˈmiːti]) mountains? It will be an outdoor adventure you won’t regret it. They lie in the most northern regions of Italy, Veneto, Trentino Alto-Adige, and Friuli Venezia Giulia. They sit between the Austrian border to the north and the Venetian plain to the south.
The Climate in The Dolomites
The climate in this area would be considered typical “alpine.” Rainfall is mainly during the summertime and they get less precipitation than Austria, France, and Switzerland. While visiting in July, the weather changed suddenly on several days with thunderstorms almost appearing out of nowhere and the temperature dropping a good 10-15 degrees. We even had a good laugh as each weather app had a different prediction for the same day. One day we were amazed when it also began hailing and accumulating a tiny bit!
| June & July | Pleasant during the day, and cool in the evening |
| June, July & August | Thunderstorms are more than likely |
| September – November | Pleasant during the day, and cool in the evening |
| December – March | Time to ski with winter in full swing |
| April – July | Spring brings beautiful wildflowers |
What to do in The Dolomites Area?
During the winter, the Dolomite Mountains are best known for their breathtaking views and top-notch skiing. Yet, the summer offers the complete opposite with rolling emerald-colored valleys filled with wildflowers in purple, yellow, blue, and white against dramatic snowy peaks and cliffs. During these few days, we enjoyed relaxing, hiking, and taking a cable car up to a beautiful picturesque area near their apartment.
Hiking is the perfect thing to do in the spring and summer but again, be mindful and prepared for a sudden change in weather.
Adventure to the Queen of the Dolomites
We took a drive through the lovely countryside on switchback roads to Marmolada, the highest mountain of the Dolomites. It lies between the borders of Trentino and Veneto. The Marmolada is an ultra-prominent peak, known as the “Queen of the Dolomites”.
Several cable car rides took us to the top at 3.265 meters or almost 11,000 feet. The panoramic terrace on Punta Rocca provided us with stunning 360 ° views right in front of Punta Penìa, the highest peak of the Dolomites at 3.342 meters.
On the north slope of the Marmolada, you will find a glacier that can be admired from all major lookout points across the Dolomites. I was a little hesitant to step out onto the glacier for several reasons.
- I know glaciers are constantly in motion
- There was only a flimsy orange construction-type netting at the edge
- There was a sign before going outside to “Enter at your own risk.”
But Gary and our friends encouraged me and I overcame – just briefly – and stepped outside for a few photos. Standing on a glacier was a bit of us rush, even for a quick moment in time.
Conclusion
I don’t care for the cold weather and my family laughs that I hate the sight of that four-letter word… SNOW. Our July visit was enchanting and I loved every moment of it. It was wonderful to spend some quality time with good friends while enjoying the fresh cooler air. From photos, the area is simply breathtaking in the wintertime, covered in a blanket of white.
If you have the opportunity, spend a few days and enjoy the outdoors and everything the area offers.
It looks beautiful AND cool! I definitely need to spend some time there in the summers!
It was indeed and it would be great to get out of the Tuscan heat!
The Dolomites looks amazingly breathtaking. I would definitely put that on my list of places to visit while in Italy. Thank you for your insight and actually looking forward to trying the Bombardino when the weather is cooler.
I think another Bombardino is in order, Theresa!
We spent a week in Kastelruth with stunning views of these mountains. Watched the famous medieval horse race being so close to Bolzano was a plus. It’s a gorgeous area for hiking and scenery
That sounds awesome, Sandy. It is a gorgeous area indeed! Thanks for the comment!
Lovely post with so many interesting facts about the Dolomites.
I’ve been interested in the Bolzano area for awhile, but now it sounds as if there is so much more to see! Adding The Dolomiti
to my list! Grazie!
Thank you Teresa – there is a lot to do other than sking! I was very surprised.
We’re sorry we missed you two in Lucca in May. We really enjoyed our month-long drive around the Italian Lakes and Tuscany and we’re starting to plan another Italian road trip; this looks like a good place to visit. We drove about 2,900km in a big loop to and from Milan and as far south as Siena. We took a drive from Riva del Garda to Bolzano last month (didn’t stay there) and would liked to have gone farther north. We’re considering going back to Riva for a couple of nights before continuing to St. Moritz and then following the general route of the Glacier Express to the Zermatt area. Our plans are “wide open” now. Our current thinking is to fly to Rome, spend a few days in Sardinia, then head north, ultimately dropping the rental car in Milan.
We were dissapointed too and hope we get another opportunity to meet. Your next trip sounds amazing too! Keep us posted and thanks for commenting.