Italy
_{August 2023 - Italy and Germany}

_Capital

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Rome

_Area

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301,230 km²
(7.2x the Netherlands)

_Time

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UTC +1

_Language

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Italian, German, French, Slovenian

_{Highest point}

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Mont Blanc de Courmayeur - 4,765 m
(2nd summit Mont Blanc mountains)

_Flag

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The first time a green, white, and red flag was used was by the Cispadane Republic in 1796. The Cispadane Republic in northern Italy was founded in 1796 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Green, white and red are traditional Milanese colors. Red and white come from the Milanese coat of arms which is a red cross on a white background. Green was the color of the uniform of the Milanese civic guard.

_Itinerary

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_currency

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The euro was introduced simultaneously in 12 European countries, as well as in Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City on 1 January 2002. This was the largest monetary exchange operation of all time. On the front of the note is a gate or window and a bridge on the back. These are all fictional. The euro replaces the Lire, introduced in 1861, which was known as the least valuable currency in Western Europe.

_Highlights

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Alto Adige: Since the early 8th century the area was part of the Duchy of Bavaria and in 1363 the area became Habsburgs. After World War I, the southern part of Tyrol was annexed by Italy as a reward for the Italian choice for the allied camp during the war.

The Dolomites are spread over a large area in the province of Alto Adige (South Tyrol) on the south side of the Alps. They consist of steep rock walls and peaks that have been created by erosion. The Dolomites are divided into nine systems. Of these nine, the Brenta Group is quite isolated in the west. The highest peak of the Dolomites is Punta Penìa (3343 m) in the Marmolada system. In 2009, the Dolomites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Geologically speaking, the Dolomites are part of the Southern Alps, which lie on the Apulian Plate. The Dolomites were formed about 60 million years ago by the compression of coral reefs and named after the 18th century French geologist Déodat de Dolomieu. The nine systems:

01	Pelmo, Croda da Lago
02	Marmolada
03	Pale di San Martino, San Lucano, Dolomiti Bellunesi, Vette Feltrine
04	Dolomiti Friulane e d’Oltre Piave
05	Dolomiti Settentrionali
06	Puez-Odle (Puez Geisler)
07	Sciliar-Catinaccio, Latemar
08	Bletterbach
09	Dolomiti di Brenta

Wengen / La Val is the smallest village in the Alta Badia region. It is located near the Parco Naturale Fanes-Senes-Braies, founded in 1980. With an area of 25,680 hectares, it is the largest in South Tyrol. In 2015, Wengen received the European Walking Village seal. The village is located at an altitude of 1353 meters. Wengen is the German name. La Valle in Italian and La Val in Ladin. When you book a hotel there, you have to take for granted that the church bells ring loudly at seven in the morning. But hey, you are there for walking, so you get up early, right? One of the walks you can take from the village is via the St Barbara chapel and Val de Fanes to the Passo di San Antonio at 2466 meters, there and back. It takes you to the edge of the Parco Naturale Fanes-Senes-Braies.

The Parco Naturale Puez-Odle was founded in 1977 and covers the northwestern part of the Dolomites and includes the Gruppo Delle Odle (geisler) and Gruppo Puez. The park is 10,000 hectares large and is also known as the history book of the earth for the geological importance of its landscapes. The protected area is bordered to the west by the Eisack valley, the Puster valley to the north, Val Badia to the east and Val Gardena to the south. The Odle group (in the northwest has the highest peaks such as Furchetta, 3030 meters and Sass Rigais at 3025 meters. The Odle group gets its name from the translation for needles in Ladin. The peaks actually look like needles next to each other. The Puez group is located in the southeast. For a beautiful walk, park your car in La Ville (Stern) and take the bus from here to the Passo Gardena at 2121 meters. There is little space to park here. The path follows part of the Europe high route. Follow the parth to Rifugio Jimmy and then steeper through a section with steep rock peaks to Jeuf de Cir at 2462 meters. At the end of the Val de Chedul the path gets gradually steeper to Pares de Crespeina at 2528 meters. The views are continuously fantastic. From here the Europe high route leads to Rifugio Puez. From here, follow the path to Piza de Gherdenacia and then turn right, back to La Ville (Stern). This walk takes all day.

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Abbazia di Novacella (Neustift), the Augustinian monastery in the municipality of Varna, just north of Bressanone, was founded in 1142 by the Bishop of Brixen/Bressanone. It is the largest monastery complex in South Tyrol. The Chiesa Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta church, the cloister and the library are definitely worth a visit.

Brixen/Bressanone is the third largest, and oldest city in South Tyrol. The Eisack river and Rienz river meet in the heart of the city. The first mention of Brixen dates back to 901 in a document from the King of Germany, Louis III, in which a Prihsna farm was offered to Bishop Zacharias of Säben. Later Prihsna changed to Brixen. After the completion the Cathedral in 992, the bishops moved from Säben to Brixen. In 1915 the Treaty of London was concluded. The aim was partly to entice Italy to join the Triple Entente in which the Italians were promised the largely German-speaking Austrian territory of South Tyrol. In 1919, after the victory of the Allies in the first world war, South Tyrol was awarded to Italy. The cloister of the cathedral is richly decorated with frescoes. The former bishops' palace, the Hofburg, contains a large collection of models with miniatures and religious images.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen) are three impressive rock peaks next to each other. The peaks are located in the Sextener Dolomites (Dolomiti di Sesto). They symbolize the entire Dolomites. In addition to horizontal layering, there are also vertical fractures. This creates rectangular blocks. Frost is the main cause of erosion. At this high altitude the water between the layers or in the fractures freezes faster. In 1948 there was a major landslide on the southern side of the largest peak (Cima Grande). The eroded material remains at the base of the peaks. If you visit the area by way of Misurina, be prepared for enormous crowds. The best approach to the three peaks is by way of Sexten to the Val Fiscalina where you can park at the Fischleinbodenhütte. Parking is pricey here, 15 euros for the whole day. If you want cheaper parking, you have to walk further to the start of the walk. It is a circular walk from the Fischleinbodenhütte up Val Fiscalina and Val Sasso Vecchio to the Drei-Zinnenhütte at 2405 meters. Here you have a great view on the Tre Cime... and crowds of tourists who have climbed up the other side. Continue the path to Rifugio Pian de Cengia with fantastic views again. This is followed by a long, beautiful descent through the Val Fiscalina Alta back to the parking lot. This walk also takes all day.

Anyone who visits the Gruppo del Sella should definitely do so with a stop at the Passo di Sella, located between Puez-Odle and Marmolada. From here, the view is phenomenal. The Sella group is relatively small and is located on the south side of the Passo Gardena. The highest point is Piz Boè at 3152 meters. There are four passes around the massif that connect the valleys around the Sella: the Sella Pass, Pordoi Pass, Campolongo Pass and Gardena pass. At the Passo Pordoi you can take the cable car one way to the top of Sas de Pordoi at 2952 meters for 15 euros. Or you can walk, up a busy gravel path. Once you reach the top, it feels like you have arrived on the moon. At the top, definitely continue to Rifugio Boè. From the top behind the Rifugio you have a viewpoint on top of the beautiful Val de Misdè, looking down. On your return you pass Rifugio Forc Pordoi. Here you have two choices. Return to the cable car or descend to Passo Pordoi on the gravel path between two high rock walls. The gravel is loose here and it makes it slippery.

The Gruppo del Catinaccio (Rosengarten group) (Italian: Catinaccio) is located west of Val di Fassa. The massif is wedged In the south, the Costalunga Pass separates the Rosengarten group from the Latemar mountain range. At 3002 meters, the Kesselkogel is the highest peak of the Rosengarten group. The most striking are the Vajolet towers. Climbing up a difficult and very crowded path from Rifugio Vajolet, you arrive in a bizarre valley. The Sciliar - Catinaccio Natural Park was founded in 1974. This is one of the parks where the history of the Dolomites is one of the most clear. The rock with a coral structure is called "Sciliar dolomite". A beautiful but challenging walk starts from Pera where you take the Vajolet I and Vajolet II chairlifts. From here you follow the path to Rifugio Vajolet and continue up through the Val de Vajolet to Rifugio Passo Principe at 2600 meters. Like most other walks described, it is also very busy here. Here the path becomes narrower and more difficult because of the crowds and the sometimes hasty hikers. The trail reaches Pas de Antermoia at 2776 meters at the highest point of the walk. After a descent you enter a wide valley at 2495 meters with the beautiful Lago d'Antermoia at the end. Just past Rifugio d'Antermoia it is a short climb to Pas de Dona where you have a fantastic view. A little further you dive into the Val de Udai, that is, if you want to return to Pera. The descent through the valley is the most difficult part of the walk. The path eroded to a narrow deep channel, full of large stones. Eventually you arrive at a wide gravel path. This is a tough walk and you have to take into account that you will be back late.