Night Thrill: Hiking in the Dark

When night is falling. everything's dark and the woods look mysterious, then it's time for a thrilling night walk. … not only for the brave.

The Alpe di Siusi Family Summer programme includes two hiking tours in the dark of the night: at the Sciliar-Catinaccio Natural Park Excursions the young and the young at heart will lie in wait for bats. Around the lake "Laghetto di Fiè" some specimens can be spotted and with a bat detector the ultrasonic calls are made audible. These nocturnal mammals are shrouded in legend. Speaking about legends, Martha, the witch, can tell some of them about the Sciliar witches. Together with the good witch Martha, families take a walk in the midst of the woods, to greet, with the only help of flashlights, the little spirits that inhabit them.

All you need to participate at this very special night experience is your researcher's spirit, a little courage and curiosity.

Into the great outdoors: The Dolomites

No matter what kind of outdoor activity you're searching for, the Dolomites are your place to be. For new experiences, ditch the car and try mountain biking in eye-crushing mountains, paragliding over a UNESCO World Heritage Site or swimming in one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes.

The bike region Alpe di Siusi/Val Gardena in the Dolomites is a superb territory for mountain biking: the region is crisscrossed by mountain bike trails covering 1,000km. Whether you are after a leisurely tour for the whole family or a more challenging adventure, the Dolomites boast a vast and varying range of mountain bike trails.

For those who prefer exploring Europe's largest alpine plateau on foot, there is a great variety of hiking trails for all types and ages. Follow the footsteps of the Sciliar witches, take a tour from hut to hut on the Alpe di Siusi or ramble through the villages of Castelrotto, Siusi and Fiè allo Sciliar.

If you're looking for a very special sporting challenge, don't miss the Alpe di Siusi Running, a running event over a total distance of 12,7km with start and finish in Compaccio on the Alpe di Siusi.

On hot summer days, the lake "Laghetto di Fiè" offers relief from the sun's heat: guests and locals alike flock to the lake to go swimming or to ride a rowboat.

Adrenaline addicts can experience the Dolomites from above during a paragliding flight. Golf aficionados get in some rounds of golf and horse riders can option for a guided trip on the well-known Haflinger horses.

The Dolomites, 5 excursion highlights

In the footsteps of the Sciliar witches. The witches' benches on the Bullaccia are known for being the resting and meeting place of the Sciliar witches on their flight to the Sciliar mountain. The benches can be reached during a hiking tour from Compaccio to the Bullaccia.

Of castles and ruins. The footpath Oswald von Wolkenstein leads past the two ruins of Castelvecchio and Salego, once the residence of the knight and poet Oswald von Wolkenstein.

Barefoot. Going through sources of sulphur and rich in wooden carved figures, woods and marshy spots, both children and adults can look for ancient traces. Discover the witches' sources on the Alpe di Siusi!

A journey of exploration across the Dolomites. The geologist's path near Siusi ranks among the most interesting excursions from a geological point of view of the Dolomites from their origin up to now.

A walk for everyone. The easy walk around the lake "Laghetto di Fiè" is suitable for everyone: for families with small kids and prams, for elderly and disabled people.

Music highlights in the holiday area Alpe di Siusi

In summer 2012 the Alpe di Siusi and the villages of Castelrotto, Siusi and Fiè allo Sciliar will turn into a great concert stage. The festival summer: an overview.

Open Air Concert of the "Kastelruther Spatzen". The days of June 8 and 9 are all about traditional folk music. For the 16th time in a row, the famous group from Castelrotto invites to a big open air spectacle.

Stradivari Summit. From June 9 to 17, the Alpe di Siusi will for the second time be meeting place of the world's finest string instruments. Classic music fans will experience four of the most known Stradivarius instruments. Operas by Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann are on the concert programme.

Concert of the "Wind players of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra". Oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and double bass will resound in harmony on June 26 at Castle Prösels. Five musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic Ensemble will interpret operas by Franz Vinzenz Krommer and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A highlight in the concert summer 2012!

Schlern International Music Festival. From July 5 to 25 the villages at the foot of the Sciliar mountain will be all about the Schlern International Music Festival. Internationally renowned personalities and young musicians will give approximately 30 concerts in Fiè allo Sciliar, Siusi, Castelrotto, Ortisei and at Castle Prösels. The star concerts with pianist Eduard Kunz and violinist Sergey Khachatryan will be the highlights of this year’s Schlern International Music Festival.

Summer Classics. From July 9 to August 13 Siusi will be the setting for an extraordinary concert series. Among the guests are the Duo Guatti, SonORO and the Kreativ Ensemble.

Chamber Music Festival. In 2012, the Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 10^th anniversary. Three concerts will take place in the framework of this music festival from July 25 to 31 at Castle Prösels.

International Ferruccio Busoni Piano Competition: Guest concert. On September 2, Siusi will be the setting for a piano concert in commemoration of Ignaz Friedman. The Montreal piano competition prize winner, Beatrice Rana, will display her talent with works by Friedman, Chopin, Clementi and Skrjabin.

"Kastelruther Spatzen" Music Festival. The second weekend in October is folk music time in Castelrotto. The Festival will go on for three days. A must not only for Kastelruther Spatzen fans but also for all fans of traditional folk music.