19th Century Mall.

Glass-domed arcade on the main square.

The Duomo

Climbed the stairs to the rooftop.

Inside the Church

La Scala Opera House and Museum. Observed a rehearsal.

All info in the museum was digital

Costumes from some of the performances

Enjoyed dinner & wine!

A wonderful day. Did lots of walking. Up to 34c.

Storza Castle. Didn’t go inside (highlight is an unfinished Michelangelo pietà.) Walked around the grounds.

Built-in chairs???

Turtles

Leonardo da Vinci National Science and Technology Museum. Fascinating! A true genius—a painter, draughsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculpter and architect.

Yup—we remember this!

VIDEO: human hands vs machine

Church of San Maurizio ‘Sistine Chapel of Lombardy’

Enjoying the wine.

Bolzano

Bolzano

Arrived in Ortisei. On our way to Hotel Hell. (Should reference that in German ‘hell’ translates to ‘light’ in English!)

Arrived and now check-in.

Walked to the centre and to Info Centre.

Dinner.

Short walk from our hotel to Ortisei-Alp di Siusi cable car. Purchased three-day passes for Euro 85 each.

Stopped for cappuccino. Very sunny 23c.

Hiked 18 kms. Stopped for a beer and caught a bus back to Ortisei.

2281m.

Enjoyed a cappuccino at a ristoro.

Spinach gnocchi with spec for Rich.

Spaghetti with meat sauce and mixed salad to share. Delicious!

Seceda

It was so nice to be close to the big mountains.

There was livestock in the area so had to climb over stiles or close gates behind us.

Lots of flowers blooming!

Stopped for cappuccino and apple strudel.

Gondola is in sight. It was a long uphill to end the hike. 14 kms. 24c and sunny.

Capricciosa Pizza to share.

Avocado salad to share. So good!

Took a local bus to Passo Sella then this interesting gondola to Sassolungo 2685m.

Some small patches of snow but didn’t need our spikes.

VIDEO: Up and over.

Famous area for climbing

Took the gondola back down and started out on a circular trail around the mountain.

On our hike we passed several chairlifts. Lots of biking in the area and many of the lifts can accommodate bikes. Most rentals are electric bikes.

Stopped for a cappuccino.

Most refugios have a play area. This one has a climbing wall, then ropes to get to the top of a huge slide. Looked like fun!

Typical bike rack.

Our hike is almost done and we are getting close to where we will catch the bus back to Ortisei. Thunderstorms are forecast for around 3:00. At check-in you get a bus pass that allows you to take most local buses for free. This is a great way to access more of the vast number of trails in the area. Thunderstorm didn’t start until 5:00 but was finished in time to go out for dinner.

Arriving at Miramonti Hotel.

View from our deck.

Walked around Corvara and stopped for a cappuccino.

Dinner was excellent. Rich had the ribs and I had Spaghetti Arribbiata. Walked back to our hotel in a downpour!

We took the Col Alt cablelift.

We chose to hike to Pralingia Lodge then hike back down to Corvara.

Clouding over.

Pralongia Lodge

Church

Rich the butterfly!

Raining so we got out the Gortex.

Pretty wet but a cappuccino was a must! Good day 13.3 kms.

Leche de Boe

Steep rocky trail

Did Dolly grow in the mountain air??

VIDEO: A bit of a scramble.

VIDEO: Slow going.

VIDEO: Cables help.

Cappuccino at Franz Kostner Refugio 2500m

Heading down!

Root Vegetable Soup

Steak and Mashed Potatoes

Complimentary Grappa!

Took the bus to Passo Gardena

Hiked up to Danter Cepies

Cappuccino at Jimmi Hütte

Walked back to Corvara

13 kms today.

Hiked up to first pass of the day 2469m

Video: Panorama

Second pass 2528m

VIDEO: Panorama

Third pass 2366m

VIDEO: Panorama

4th and final pass of the day.

Hiked up to Refugio Puez 2475

Down. Down. Down.

Salad

Ham, Sausage, Sauerkraut & Potatoes

Chicken Breast, Spinach & Potatoes

View from our hotel deck

Arena in Verona

Juliet’s House

Pizza on the square. It’s hot—35C. Flight to London early in the morning!