EuroHoon ’18
Welcome to the CarCrazedFool EuroHoon ’18 – “Ciao Italia”.
Last year we toured the best mountain passes that Switzerland has to offer. This year we venture further south; embrace Italian culture, enjoy delicious Italian food and experience the dramatic Dolomites.
Our tour is packed with iconic roads and endless curving tarmac. We’ve also incorporated a little R&R mid-week to ensure we stay refreshed for the long days of driving epic roads!
Hotel Villa Cordevigo
We start our Dolomite Adventure close to the shores of Lake Garda. We have a night to relax before collecting our cars first thing in the morning at the beautiful Villa Cordevigo.
“A historical mansion set in the heart of the countryside affording days of total regeneration
There are special places where water and air have beneficial qualities, places where the energy of the trees meet the energy of man, where you eat food that is good through and through and excellent wine is produced. Places steeped in history and culture for true lovers of beauty and the finer things in life.
The Cristoforetti and Delibori Families welcome you to Villa Cordevigo.”
Morning: Lake Garda – Stelvio Pass (Gavia Pass, Stelvio Pass)
Gavia Pass:
“Gavia Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.621 m (8,599 ft) above the sea level, located in the Lombardy region, Italy. The pass is traversed by the SP29 road, and it’s often used on the route of the Giro d’Italia road bicycle race. It’s one of thehighest mountain passes of Italy. It’s perhaps the most challenging climb of all. It is an extremely difficult climb, with a combination of length, average gradients, maximum gradient and elevation gain not matched by any other climb in Europe.
The Passo di Gavia is one of the highest and even most beautiful passes of the Alps and divides the province of Sondrio to the north and the province of Brescia to the south. Road surface is very good. You will not see many cars on this road, but motorcycles are a common sight. If you decide to climb Gavia, make sure you have extra clothes for the descend. The top is a Glacier and the temperature at this elevation is fairly low even in the middle of the summer. Scenery is breathtaking and descending down to Santa Caterina Valfurva and Bormio is extremely fun, well worth the pain of going up. Don’t be surprised – there can be snowfall even in summer. The road is closed during winter on the south side. On the north side the street is partially open even in winter because there are a lot of ski slopes. This is a skiing area near the famous winter sport village of Bormio.
The surface of the road is asphalt, and chains or snow tyres can be required throughout the year. The road over the pass connects Bormio to the northwest with Ponte di Legno to the south and is single track most on its southern section. The uphill starts in the Valfurva in the north or in Ponte di Legno (BS) in the south. The side facing the Valtellina is less steep than the other one, even if it is a longer way up to the pass.”
– excerpt Dangerous Roads
Stelvio Pass:
The Stelvio Pass. This is the most iconic pass in the Alps, made famous by the Top Gear episode where the TG boys declared it “The best driving road in the world!”, that’s not something I’d agree with necessarily from a drivers perspective, but it’s certainly a ‘must drive’.
The third highest pass in the Alps, featuring two very different sides. The southern face climbs steadily, increasing in steepness and frequency of hairpins as you approach the famous summit. The northern face is one of an engineering masterpiece, an intense and relentless sequence of serpentine hairpins climbing what appears to be a sheer cliff face. It’s spectacular.
Afternoon: Stelvio Pass – Vipiteno (Timmeljoch, Jaufenpass)
Timmelsjoch:
“The Timmelsjoch pass (Passo del Rombo in Italian) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.509m (8,231ft) above the sea level that creates a link through the Ötztal Alps along the border between Austria and Italy, just some meters below the Queen of alpine roads, the Passo dello Stelvio. It’s one of the highest mountain passes of the Alps.
The Timmelsjoch connects the Ötztal valley in the Austrian state of Tyrol to the Passeier Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. On the Italian side, the road to reach the summit is called SS44bis, and on the Austrian side, there’s a toll road, called Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse, with a maximum altitude of 2.509 m and a length of 12 km. With its 2.509m altitude it is one of the highest alpine transition roads. From Untergurgl across the Timmelsjoch pass to South Tirol/Meran the road has a length of 38km. Due to the exposed high-elevation terrain, driving over the mountain pass is only possible between approximately the beginning of June and the end of October.
The drive is definitely worth it. The narrow road offers breathtaking views of the Ötztal Alps and afterwards of the picturesque landscape of the “Passeiertal” in South Tyrol. The road overcomes 2.500 meters in altitude in numerous serpentines. For centuries the mountain pass was the most important connection between the Upper Inn Valley and the city of Merano, which represented the political and economic center of the historical county of Tyrol for a long time. Don’t forget your camera!”
Crosspoint/Motorcycle Museum:
As well as stopping for lunch, we’ll have the chance to take a look around the highest motorcycle museum in Europe!
Lunch: Crosspoint at the top of the Timmelsjoch
Jaufen Pass:
“The Jaufenpass (ital. Passo di Monte Giovo) connects the Eisacktal valley in the east with the Passeiertal valley in the west. Starting point in the east is the village Sterzing (ital. Vipiteno), end point of that pass road is Saint Leonhard (ital. San Leonardo). Starting that tour in Sterzing the pass road winds itself through green meadows and some smaller forests up. The road itself is very narrow with lots of curves. After you have reached the timber line, the view opens up and you have a beautiful picture down into the Eisacktal valley
On the pass summit, you will find some kind of log cabin with small food service and souvenir sale. If you continue a bit on that road, you will find behind the pass summit a guesthouse with a big parking lot. On this side of the mountain, the pass roads swings down in wide curves and serpentines down to Saint Leonhard. The road surface is moderate, the mountain view however magnificent.”
A. Nett Hotel
“Young, classy and genuine… Do you feel like mountains?
Welcome to our land, blessed with sun, clean water and fresh air. We put great value on style, quality and hospitality. Have a sociable time with friends and delicacies that make your mouth water.”
Morning: Vipiteno – Corvara (Penser Joch, Nigerpass, Sella Pass, Gardena Pass)
Penserjoch:
“There are two possibilities to enter the Penserjoch pass road from the South. Both are beautiful, on different ways. If you take the route from Bolzano, you will pass the famous Runkelstein castle, which sits on a steep rock in the middle of the canyon entry in a fantastic rocky landscape. The road follows north the river Torrente in uncounted curves and innumerable rock tunnels up to the pass summit. The second entrance can be made across the Ritten mountain. A very narrow country road runs with many curves and serpentines along the steep cliffs down into Sarntal valley. Both roads meet at the valley ground at a small wooden fast-food station, where you can have French fries with Tyrolean sausage.
From here the road continues valley upward until you reach a plateau. Approaching the village Sarntheim (ital. Sarentino) the valley opens up to a small plateau. This country side is meager and shows little vegetation. Steep rocks pile up to the sky and the road continues to lead up through green meadows.
At the end of the Sarntal valley, the pass road takes a light right curve and bends into the Pensertal valley where it gains now above the timber line at height. The road surface is terrific with endless grip, the curves clear and even the serpentines are easy to tackle. Pure riding fun. When reaching the summit you will find a country guesthouse that offers local specialities for a good price ratio and you can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view back down to the Pensertal valley and in the opposite direction into the Eisacktal valley.
The road from the pass summit down to Sterzing leads most of the time through a large forest. From time to time however a gap opens with parking possibility. Here you should not simply pass by, but make a break and enjoy the view into the Eisacktal valley. A magnificent mountain world. From Sterzing you may take left either across the Jaufenpass or the Brennero pass, or take a right into the Eisacktal back to Bolzano or take a left down the road in the Eisacktal valley at Waidbruck towards the central dolomites with its famous Sella rock. Lots of beautiful options.”
Nigerpass:
“The Passo Nigra, or better known as the Niger saddle is one of the steepest alpine passes with his 24%. But beware if you miss the exit in Blumau (Prato all’Isarco), we will end up on the new pass road that is broadly built and allows a great view into the Tiers valley and over to the village Steinegg (Ital. Collepietra). Both ways uphill are great. The first one runs through a very small canyon and the second one along the hillside with great panoramic viea into the valley. In Blumau a small sign points the way towards the village Breien and the old pass road that leads here through the original Tiers valley and will end up on the famous 24% slope on which end you will hit the new pass road just 1ml before the village Tiers.
The road through the Tiers valley is quite narrow and can be compared with a pathway rather than with a pass road. The road always runs on the valley floor following along the small creek surrounded by giant rock walls. Traffic on this road is nearly zero and only sometimes we see some people in the small villages we pass through.
But if you decide to ride in Blumau straight on the main road toward Castelrotto and Voels and you don’t mess up your tour in front of the tunnel and ride up the Brenner pass instead, then you will hit the road that runs on the right side of the Isarco Valley up towards the Alpe di Siusi. From here a magnificent view opens up down into the Eisack valley and the Brenner highway that tries to drill its way through the narrow Isarco valley. After about 3mls you then need to take a right to the new road to the Nigerpass.
If you follow the old pass road down in the Tiers valley and made the 24% slope, which can only be taken in the first gear based on the many hairpin bends, you will end up on the new pass road. Also on the new road the traffic in Tiers is low since the main tourist route mainly takes the route through the Eggen valley and the Great Dolomite Alps Panoramic Road. You pass the village Tiers and will be hit by the overwhelming view to the front of the Rosengarten (Rose Garden) massif.
The legend says that the dwarf king Laurin was beaten here by the knight Dietrich von Bern, even he had his stealth cap on and was invisible. Based on that he hexed the Rosengarten (Rose Garden) and from this day on the rock should never light in red during day and night time. But he forgot dusk and dawn and from this day on the Dolomite rock looks red in the morning and the evening especially in autumn.
Just before we reach the Rosengarten rocks we dive into an evergreen forest that blocks the further view in to the valley and up the mountains. The road winds up with a good surface mainly kept in good condition, in lots of curves and easy serpentines uphill to the Niger saddle. Just a view yards in front of the saddle you will find a typical timber restaurant with a sun deck that allows a barrier free view up to the Rosengarden. After that curve where the restaurant is located you may pass the summit if you don’t watch out and follow the road some miles down to the Karerpass.
The Niger pass then hits the Great Dolomite Alps Panoramic Road. When you then take a left you will ride toward Cortina d’Ampezzo and the mountains. If you take a right this will lead you down through the Eggental and Bolzano.”
Passo Sella:
“Passo Sella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,244m (7,362ft) above the sea level, located between the provinces of Trentino and South Tyrol in Italy. The pass is traversed by the narrow SS242 road.
The asphalted road over the Sella Pass (also known as Sellajoch) connects the Val Gherdëina in South Tyrol and Canazei in the Fascia Valley in Trentino.
This is one of the most famous passes in the Dolomites. To reach the summit, starting from Plan de Gralba – Northside, the ascent is 5.45 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 373 meters. The average percentage is 6.8 %.
The road includes some steep sections, without market central lines, is very narrow, scarcely wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time and there are no protections or guard rails along some parts of the route. This pass is crowned by the wonderful Torri del Sella and Mesules. You can enjoy a really stunning view on the Sassolungo group (3,181 meters).”
Passo Gardena:
“Passo Gardena is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.136m (7,008ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites of the South Tyrol in northeast Italy. The pass is traversed by the Strada Statale 243.
The road over the Passo Gardena (also known as Grödnerjoch is asphalted and connects Sëlva in the Val Gardena on the west side with Corvara in the Val Badia. On the top of the pass there are tourist accommodations on the pass itself, and hikers visit the pass to access the dramatic Dolomite mountains: a hotel with a restaurant, a souvenir shop and a few commercial buildings. The route becomes busy with tourists, motorcyclists, and cyclists during the summer.
Starting from Corvara, the ascent is 9.6 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 599 meters. The average is 6.2 %. The reward for climbing the two punchy ramps of the southern slopes of the Passo Gardena is one of the best descents of your life through the luscious meadows of the Passo Gardena’s eastern flank. Riding this road along the Sella massif, you will find here the classic and worldwide published typical Dolomite Alps landscape.”
Lunch:
“It can seem as if time has stood still here. An important piece of Corvara’s history resides here. There is a real genuine atmosphere which permeates every action and every small corner. Here there is the spirit of mountain life which is a refuge for both body and mind. Light filters through the woodframed windows and simple yet delicate curtains. The flooroards tend to gently squeak as years ago and the stube always have a warm welcome. Hospitality here within is the art of attention, responsibility, and respect for all.”
Hotel Cristallo
www.hotelcristallo-altabadia.it
“Offering a free wellness centre and indoor swimming pool, Hotel Cristallo is 1.2 miles south of La Villa. During winter, it provides a free ski bus to the Pizla Ila and Piz Boe cable cars 0.9 miles away.
Rooms at the Cristallo Hotel are a mix of classic and modern interior design. Each one comes with wood floors and a balcony overlooking the woods or Mount Santa Croce. All rooms feature free WiFi, an LCD TV, and bathrobes and slippers.
The buffet breakfast includes fresh croissants, fruit and cold cuts and cheese. The restaurant is open at lunch and dinner and serves traditional Trentino cuisine. Packed lunches are available on request.
The 4-star wellness facilities include a sauna, Turkish bath and fitness centre. There is also a children’s playground and a games room with table football.
Guests enjoy free public parking in the surroundings, while private covered parking is available at extra charge. The nearest bus stop is 50 yards away for buses to Brunico Train Station.”
Morning: Cortina d-Ampezzo – Cortina d-Ampezzeo (Thee peaks of Lavaredo)
Passo di Valparola:
“Passo di Valparola is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.168m (7,113ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno in Italy.
The road over the pass is aspahlted and connects the summit of the Passo di Falzarego on the side of the province of Veneto, with the Val Badia, in the province of South Tyrol. The pass is the divide between the watersheds of the Adige, which flows west into the Adriatic Sea and the Piave, which flows east.
The road over the pass was built during World War 1st to supply the combat line at the Falzarego zone with weapons and ammunition, the road today is relatively good built, in excellent conditions easy to ride. Before World War I, there was only a trail over the pass, but the area was heavily contended during the war. A remaining fort has been made into a museum.”
Passo di Falzarego:
“Passo di Falzarego is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.105m (6,906ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno in Italy.
The asphalted road over the Passo di Falzarego connects Andráz and Cortina d’Ampezzo. It has endless curves and serpentines which form a fantastic pass road uphill through evergreen forests. This is a good route with a great surface and with a combination of hairpins, medium fast sweepers and some long straights. The pass was a hard-fought position between the Austrians and Italians in World War II in the Dolomite war and it’s still a well known war memorial.”
Three Peaks of Lavaredo:
Tre Cime di Lavaredo (English:Three Peaks of Lavaredo, German: Drei Zinnen) are one of the most renowned mountain groups in the Alps, reaching impressive altitude of 2.999 m. Located at the border between the provinces of Belluno and Bolzano in northeastern Italy, these distinctive peaks are part of the Sexten Dolomites.
The road leading to Rifugio Auronzo, a famous mountain cabin found on the southern side of these amazing mountains, is called Strada Panoramica Delle Tre Cime. This great road was built during the first World War to serve as a transport road, since the front line between Italy and Austria ran through these mountains. Even today you can still find in the area a number of old fortifications, commemorative plaques and man-made caves.
The climb to Rifugio Auronzo is considered to be one of the greatest classic drives of the Dolomites and, most noteworthy, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are the symbol of the Dolomite UNESCO World Heritage site.
This scenic route will lead you to the foot of the Three Peaks of Lavaredo and is at a distance of 25 km from the comune of Auronzo di Cadore, 18 km from the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo and 16 km from Alta Pusteria.
The road is in excellent condition, it’s open from May until the end of October and is relatively broad for a mountain road, reaching on some areas a width of up to 8 m. The main and easiest access route is from Misurina Lake at an altitude of 1750 m. As this is a toll road, you will be asked to pay a small fee.
With an average slope gradient of 12.4% and a maximum of 16% on the last portion, the drive starts with an initial steep ramp which quickly becomes more even and even slightly downhill. During the first two thirds of the road, you will encounter only soft curves and just a few serpentines. The surprise will come once you reach the last stretch: this fabulous road becomes steeper once again, with some very narrow and spectacular turns just before reaching Rifugio Auronzo at the altitude of 2.320 m .
This amazing drive will take through scattered forests and picturesque alpine pastures, offering along the way breathtaking views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Especially relevant, the route is very popular among cyclists, hikers and mountain lovers due to its difficulty and steepness.
Lunch: http://elzoco.it
Ristorante El Zoco –
It has been more than 40 years that the restaurant El Zoco is the place to go for the lovers of fined dining. Everything from the furniture to the way we cook is thought to give a relaxing and pleasing meal. The open concept restaurant with coal fired grill gives a unique atmosphere beside cooking fantastic meat and vegetables.
Hotel Cristallo
www.hotelcristallo-altabadia.it
“Offering a free wellness centre and indoor swimming pool, Hotel Cristallo is 1.2 miles south of La Villa. During winter, it provides a free ski bus to the Pizla Ila and Piz Boe cable cars 0.9 miles away.
Rooms at the Cristallo Hotel are a mix of classic and modern interior design. Each one comes with wood floors and a balcony overlooking the woods or Mount Santa Croce. All rooms feature free WiFi, an LCD TV, and bathrobes and slippers.
The buffet breakfast includes fresh croissants, fruit and cold cuts and cheese. The restaurant is open at lunch and dinner and serves traditional Trentino cuisine. Packed lunches are available on request.
The 4-star wellness facilities include a sauna, Turkish bath and fitness centre. There is also a children’s playground and a games room with table football.
Guests enjoy free public parking in the surroundings, while private covered parking is available at extra charge. The nearest bus stop is 50 yards away for buses to Brunico Train Station.”
Morning: Cortina d-Ampezzo – Falcade (Giau Pass, Duran Pass, Cereda Pass, Rolle Pass)
Passo di Giau:
“Passo di Giau is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.236m (7,336ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the province of Belluno in Italy.
The asphalted road over the pass connects Cortina d’Ampezzo and Selva di Cadore / Livinallongo del Col di Lana in the Livinallongo valley. It’s a difficult climb through endless hairpin turns up to the top.”
Duran Pass:
“Duran Pass (Italian: Passo Duran) is a secluded but charming mountain pass located in the province of Belluno, northeastern Italy. Reaching a high point of 1.605 m, it connects the comune of La Valle Agordina with Zoldo Alto, a small village of only 915 inhabitants.
Starting from La Valle Agordina, the ascent is 18.7 km long. Over this distance, the climb has an average gradient of 8.1%, with peaks of 15% on some parts of the road.
Duran Pass offers a quiet and scenic drive and is often used in the famous Giro d’Italia competition due to the challenge it poses, particularly on its descent. After driving a distance of 7.1 km from La Valle Agordina, you will reach the top of the pass. Here you can admire the impressive Monte Pelmo, a mountain of enormous proportions and one of the great rock domes of the Bellunese Dolomites, with a height of 3.168 m. At the summit you will also find small church with an interesting design and two inns: Rifugio Tomé and Rifugio San Sebastiano, which provide basic accommodation and meals to passing tourists.
However, this fascinating drive isn’t over yet: after another 11.7 km, you will reach the village of Zoldo Alto, well known in the area for its beautiful scenery and homemade Italian ice cream called “Gelato”, made by local artisans in their workshops.”
Rolle Pass:
“During the Dolomite war, the Passo di Rolle gained negative fame as the main battle line ran along this mountain chain. Today the region around Passo di Rolle is the home of a gorgeous national park, the Parco Naturale Paneveggio – Pale. The pass runs from south to north through the Val Cismon uphill to the pass summit and then bends to the west, where it dives into the Val Travignolo.
The pass road on this side of the pass is broad and in good conditions and swings through light and endless curves uphill, sometimes interrupted by one or two serpentines. We follow the western side of the small valley Val Cismon mostly through some light forests and meadows. Those who have made that route once will understand why we ride up always from this side of the pass. After about twelve kilometres you will reach the village San Marino di Campiglio.
San Marino di Campiglio (1,444 m) is nowadays a classic tourist destination, but in the past it was the preferred vacation location for famous personalities such as the King of Belgium, the poet Dino Buzzati, Cesare Battisti, who named the Valley of San Martino, the “most arrogant amphitheatre of the Dolomitie Alps “and finally Stradivari, who often went into the” String forest “to select the most suitable wood for his instruments. In the past, the Venetians came to this forest to find the best wood for their ships. Today the forests are protected and you can admire the flora and fauna in their integral beauty.
Behind the village San Marino di Campiglio the real magic begins with uncountable curves. In sparse pine forest serpentine by serpentine the road winds up. When you have reached the timber line, the traveller will notice to the left and right side of the road two great mountain chains, in between the mountain road continues winding up to the top. When you have reached the summit it is recommended to ride across the crest and to stop in about 600ft on the right hand side at a cafe for a cappuccino.”
Lunch: Road Sausage
Afternoon: Falcade – Borgo (Pordoi Pass, Manghen Pass)
Passo Pordoi:
“Passo Pordoi (Pordoijoch) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.239m (7,346ft) above the sea level, located in the Dolomites in the Alps, between the Sella group in the north and the Marmolada group in the south, in Italy.
The road over the pass is called SR48. It’s known as Strata Statale delle Dolomit and it connects Arabba (Livinallongo del Col di Lana) with Canazei (Fascia Valley). It’s the highest surfaced road traversing a pass in the Dolomites. Located 12 km away from Canazei, it features as many as 28 hairpin bends. It is one of the 4 passes of the Dolomites Road, built in the beginning of the 20th century to link Bolzano with Cortina, and encourage the development of tourism in the Ladin valleys. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 637 heightmeters, and the average percentage is 6.8 %. A memorial to Fausto Coppi stands at the summit of the pass. This pass is the second of seven Dolomite mountain passes that riders cross in the annual Maratona dles Dolomites.”
Manghen Pass:
The entry into the Passo Manghen from the north is located near the village Molina. Molina can be reached via three possible routes. The quickest way is via Bolzano and then up to Ora to Val di Femme. Although the route from Ora is great and in good conditions with lots of fun curves, the way from Bolzano to Ora is not so nice and a major transit road with lots of traffic.
The better way we recommend to access the Passo di Manghen is via the Lavazejoch (Italian Passo di Lavazé) up from the Val d’Ega (Eggen valley). This scenic route is a poem, narrow roads and plenty of great curves. You just need to be careful at the end of Lavazejochs in the village Cavalese that you do not take the wrong way. This happens to us even after we have made that tour many times. A best memory hook is that when you hit the roundabout in Cavalese, always exit in the direction Ora toward the N48. Once you have reached the N48 you will find the signs toward Molina. Just take a left to Molina, that will work.
The longest tour to access Passo di Manghen is riding across the Karerpass, Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme. Not so recommended because main street. Having found the sign to Passo Manghen and here we highly recommend the road map of the Touring Club Italiano “Trentino – Alto Adige” on a scale of 1:200,000 (ISBN 88-365-1737-4), you will end up riding uphill in a little valley, following a narrow road. The road becomes narrower and disappears in a thick pine forest. Steadily uphill with plenty of serpentines the road winds up the hill like a somewhat broader pathway. Caution and watch out since the Italians know every curve and thus who own a Fiat Ciquecento drive like crazy downhill.
Just before you reach the pass summit, the forest ends at the timber line and the pathway, since road is a highway compared to that on which you drive here continues uphill through meadows. You think the road ends here somewhere in a farm barn or in a dairy. But that’s for sure not the case. Just some yards before you hit the summit you will hear loud yodel from a CD and a timber hostel invites you to linger with good local food. After 900ft you then have reached the summit.. From here you can enjoy the view towards the south and the Val di Calamento. The road downhill leads then between pastures and a small grove with many curves down until you reach the village Telve.
Now don’t get lost or confused. From here down in Telve the best way to continue your planned tour is via the Passo di Brocon, so you take a left always in the direction Strigno and Pieve Tesino. Then it will work. You will pass through typical Italian villages, quaint and original, zero tourism. The road surface of the Passo Manghen is usually in excellent condition. Easy to ride except the road through the forest where you may find often wet larch needles that will make it a little bit slippery – and the low flying Italian Fiat Cinquecentos.
B612 Hotel
The B612 represents a different, special Hotel, which brings a completely new concept of hospitality and entertainment to Trentino Alto Adige. The idea behind this Hotel came from the desire to create a place, where everyone could be oneself, like on the asteroid B612, on the little prince’s planet. Our guests will feel like they’re in another world, in a place where everything is possible.
Morning: Hotel B612 – Osteria Senz’Oste (Brocon Pass, Cereda Pass, San Boldo Pass, Mt. Grappa)
Passo San Boldo:
Now this is a famous one!
“Passo San Boldo is a mountain pass located between the cities of Trichiana and Tovena (Cison di Valmarino) in Veneto, Italy, at an elevation of 706 m (2,316 ft) that lies in the northern reaches of the Italian Alps. The most challenging part of the climb is a short stretch of 700m including 7 hairpin turns. It’s one of the famous hair-pinned roads in the world.
The road still remains an adrenaline-pumping journey and is definitely not for the faint of lungs, heart, or legs. The 17km route goes from Trichiana (in the Belluna Valley), at an altitude of 329m, to Tóvena (in the Val Moreno), at an altitude of 272m, through an altitude of 706 m. The drive is definitely worth it.
The road, called SP 635, just allows traffic in one direction, alternating with traffic lights. The ramp to access the south side by the neck back is a nearly vertical wall with a series of five turns through tunnels carved into the rock connected by six bridges. This road replaced a steep path leading up to summit that existed since the nineteenth century but only during the First World War that project succeeded. Between February and June 1918, the Austro-Hungarian army managed to build the road in less than three months. After this fact, the road got the nickname of “road of 100 days.”
This road is usually open all year, but it can be closed anytime when the access is not cleared of snow. 1400 people, including prisoners of war and women, children and the elderly in the area, worked day and night to complete the strategic route for refueling during the Battle of Piave. Despite the topographical conditions, the slope could not exceed 12% for the passage of heavy vehicles and artillery.”
Lunch: TBD
Afternoon: Osteria Senz’Oste – Hotel Castel Pietra
The afternoon sees us taking a scenic tour around Mt. Grappa. Flowing roads and beautiful scenery.
Hotel Castel Pietra
Set in a quiet location, this 3-star hotel is only a 5-minute walk from Transacqua di Primiero. It features a spa and wellness centre, a traditional restaurant, free Wi-Fi and free parking in the garage.
Castel Pietra provides modern rooms and apartments with wooden furniture. They come with heating, a private bathroom, and satellite TV.
Every morning, this hotel serves a rich breakfast buffet. The restaurant is mentioned in the Gambero Rosso restaurant guide and features a terrace. It offers a good selection of local and international dishes.
Morning: Hotel Castel Pietra – Villa Cordevigo
And we’re back to the start.
An afternoon to relax, enjoy the hotel and have dinner in their Michelin 1* restaurant.
Head back to Blighty