A Charming Authentic Town With Storybook Architecture Is A Gateway To Adventure In Italy's Dolomites

The Dolomites in northern Italy feature some of the country's most breathtaking views and high-altitude mountain passes with hairpin roads. Imposing, craggy peaks are set amongst lush, alpine meadows, where cattle graze to the sound of gently jangling cowbells. The sky is so dazzlingly blue you feel like you might be on another planet, or that you have been transported to the snowy mountains of "The Lord of the Rings." There are many pretty alpine villages and towns dotted throughout the South Tyrol, and it can be hard to decide where to stay. One of the lesser-sung heroes, San Vigilio di Marebbe, is as traditional as it gets. The village is located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region and has around 1,200 inhabitants. It is characterized by its traditional chalet-style buildings, featuring distinctive sloping roofs that are designed to shed heavy snow during the winter season.

San Vigilio di Marebbe is centered around its elegant whitewashed Catholic church, Chiesa Madre di San Vigilio. Shops selling local crafts, woodcarvings, and local produce are dotted throughout the village, along with some excellent restaurants, including Ristorante Fana Ladina, which serves traditional fare such as Schlutzkrapfen. These little parcels of joy are a Tyrolean speciality of ravioli stuffed with spinach, ricotta, and garlic and fried in a butter and chive sauce. They are pure heaven on a plate! There are also numerous hotels in San Vigilio di Marebbe, many of which, such as the Sporthotel Exclusive and Stoa Hotel, have spas with a swimming pool and hot tub. The village is a quiet and serene place to relax after a day of adventuring in the Dolomites. After all, the main selling point of San Vigilio di Marebbe is its accessibility to the great and beautiful outdoors.

From June to late September, hikers flock to the Dolomites to explore the stunning trails and take advantage of the gondola lifts, which are only open for a few months during the summer season. San Vigilio di Marebbe lies at the base of the Kronplatz (or "Plan de Corones"), a flat-topped mountain with a top elevation of 7,464 feet. The broad, grassy summit makes it both accessible and safe for less experienced hikers, while featuring beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.

To reach the summit by mountain lift, you will need to get a bus from San Vigilio di Marebbe to Riscone and then take the Kronplatz 2000 gondola. You can also hike up part of the way from the village and take the Ruis cable car to the top. There is also another cable car that operates directly from San Vigilio di Marebbe to Piz de Plaies, which is popular for both hiking and mountain biking. Just be sure to check the daily forecast and come prepared with sturdy hiking boots, as hiking accidents in the Dolomites have been on the rise.

Just 5 miles from San Vigilio di Marebbe is Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, one of the largest natural parks in Trentino-Alto Adige. There are four nature trails to explore here, including the Maite Fountains Path and the Larch Trail. The most popular spot is Lake Braies, which is a dazzling shade of emerald green. There is a gentle 2.3-mile hiking loop around the lake, although it can get busy, so arrive early if you want to avoid the crowds. If you are feeling adventurous, San Vigilio di Marebbe is also home to Europe's longest zipline, which spans seven sections covering over 5,000 feet.

During the winter season, skiers and snowboarders in San Vigilio di Marebbe have access to more than 70 miles of groomed runs via 32 ski lifts. The resort offers a good selection of nursery slopes and beginner runs, so it is an excellent choice for families and mixed-ability groups. Kids can also participate in a range of other winter activities, including tobogganing and husky sledding (suitable for children aged 3 and older).

More experienced skiers will enjoy the challenge of The Black Five, all of which can be found on the Kronplatz. This is one of the few ski areas in the whole of the Italian Alps that boasts this many black slopes — equivalent to diamond or double diamond slopes in the U.S., depending on the gradient and terrain. For an adventure further afield, skiers and snowboarders can take a ski bus plus a series of ski lifts to Corvara, where they can begin the spectacular Sellaronda, which runs across four Dolomite passes and can be completed in a single day with the Dolomiti Superski ski pass. In fact, skiing hut-to-hut in the Italian Dolomites can be surprisingly affordable.

San Vigilio di Marebbe also has a fun après-ski scene, with several bars and pubs to enjoy a beer or Williams-pear, a popular local grappa. The Bus Stop Pub is one of the only places open late in the village, and is popular with both tourists and locals for its fun atmosphere and quirky exterior. San Vigilio di Marebbe is about a 90-minute drive from the region's underrated capital city, Bolzano, which has its own regional airport.