Some tips on what to visit with your dog, where to go and advice on treks to do in Sudtirol.

INTRO.

This is the second year in a row that we do the August holidays in Trentino Alto Adige, to be exact in Sudtirol.

While last year we stayed at Tires this year due to logistical problems ( Simone had a mtb race and did not know exactly when he was back) we booked at the last minute (at 1am and we left the next day).

All this led us to book 3 different hotels / gasthof in 3 different locations. I will say ‘it was not bad at all, we always trek in different areas and saw some places that we lacked.

August we know is the worst time to go on vacation, high prices and full of people everywhere but here the first TIP .

If you love walk, since the first day you will realize that most of the people are walking in shelters half an hour / 1 hour walk far. 

In our hikes from 2 to 4 hours on average we met 10 people.

So what I’m telling you is: do not stop at the lower treks, push yourself a little higher and in addition to enjoying a better view you will enjoy the walk much more and even stop at the shelter.

In Sudtirol the CAI trail signs are everywhere and there is always marked the travel time of that stretch. Get the maps from the INFOPOINT that are really spread everywhere and if you go to very touristy areas arrive very soon.

^^^ Here during our trek above the Plose Mount (Bressanone) ^^^

HOTEL WITH DOGS IN SUDTIROL

I have never had problems with our dog in any hotel in Trentino Alto Adige.

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Walk along the Pellegrino path in Friuli Venezia Giulia starting from Borgo Lussari, Camporosso (Tarvisio) towards Monte Santo di Lussari (CAI 613) and eaten at Meschnik hut on the panoramic terrace at an altitude of 1790 meters overlooking the beautiful Julian Alps.

As often happens on Sunday morning I have to work. Wasting a sunny day in July to do nothing is not for us so 2 weeks ago we decided to go to the Monte Santo di Lussari above Tarvisio, reachable in just 2 hours of walking (at least for us) in the afternoon.

I had already been on the Lussari many times but always in the cableway, both in summer and in winter.

We often organize here great meals with friends in my favorite hideaway, the Meschnik hut, or the last restaurant you can find by coming from the cable car or the first if you take the Pellegrino Trail.

Here the owner will always welcome you with a super smile and you can not even talk about their delicious first courses, frico and a thousand other delicacies to eat on the panoramic terrace. I’ve been going there for more or less 10 years and it’s always a show in every season.

I would also like to point out that at the Meschnik hut you can stay overnight and dogs are allowed (which usually is not so obvious in the shelters).

THE TREK

I‘ll be honest. The path is not beautiful until you get to the top. But you climb in a short time and from the top you are right in the heart of the Julian Alps and the view is enchanting. One can not go there at least once. And then above you eat …. I’ll tell you to do!

It starts from Borgo Lussari to 858 m and follows the old historical and religious path of the Pellegrino. Along the CAI 613 road you will find the various stations of the numbered Via Crucis. They will give you hope in times of kind discomfort like

“No, I can not do it, I knew I had to take the cable car”

“Oh my God and if I get on and have finished the frico !?”

“But why this ****  path never ends ?!”

“I HATE TO WALK but why I’m HERE ?!”.

Here is going up with the numbers to climb you will have the feeling of arriving in a moment. That is not true anyway ..

^^^First part of the path ^^^

^^^ Second part ^^^

^^^ Happiness when you reach the top^^^

So.

You climb along this path of stones (be careful downhill) totally immersed in the vegetation. Sometimes you can cut pieces of trail in the trees but in short, what path of the Pellegrino is if you take shortcuts? So we have diligently followed the walk up to Malga Lussari (photo above), where you can also see the Lussari ski slopes in summer.

From this point begins the steeper bit but nothing impossible. I have many friends who have also done it with children so it is really suitable for everyone.

In the middle of the forest you will get up quickly and in a flash you will find yourself in front of the beautiful Cacciatore peak, Jof Fuart, and the Jof di Montasio. You can also admire the Austrian peaks like the Dobratsch or the Osternig and see the peaks of the Triglav Park in Slovenia like the Mangart.

From Lussari there is truly a 360 ° view and if you are not good at recognizing them at first glance I recommend the app “PeakFinder” to find out the name of all the mountains that surround you.

^^^ The top ^^^

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE OTHERS TREK ADVENTURES IN FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA 

We arrive at the top which is 6 p.m.. The light is fantastic and in the distance we hear the siren sound that signals the last cable car ride. Even many people working on Lussari in shops and restaurants are quick to get off and go home while only those who spend the night here stay at the top.

Step to greet Micky at Meschnik hut and before stopping to eat the long-awaited frico (for those who do not know it is the typical Friulian dish made of potatoes and cheese and is SOO GOOD!) I decide to take a ride and take some pictures. Both Simone and Giorgino do not seem very happy and follow me listless.

It was the first time that I happened to go up at this time and especially to see the Lussari so empty, without tourists and all the shops closed. We were the only ones to walk in the central street and even when we decided to stop and eat the terrace and the sun coming down was all for us. Superb.

^^^ The famous Monte Santo di Lussari and the huts, shops, restaurants at 1790 m ^^^

A LITTLE BIT OF STORY  

But what is the Holy Mountain of Lussari and why did it become?

The story tells that in 1360 a shepherd boy found an image of the Mother of God on Mount Lussari and gave it to the parish priest who kept her safe in a closet. This image in a closet did not want to stay and the next day was back on Mount Lussari. It happened again and again until it was decided to build a small chapel right on the mountain.

Over the centuries this chapel became increasingly important and a destination for pilgrimages also from neighboring states such as Austria and Slovenia, but not only. In fact, after the church it was decided to also build a refreshment point to accommodate pilgrims in transit. Lussari is also a destination for the Celestial Way, a pilgrimage route that unites Italy, Austria and Slovenia, touching various places that are significant for believers.

It has been estimated that in the distant times  10,000 pilgrims passed through, that in periods when there were no cars or economic possibilities it was very much. In fact, the tradition started the pilgrimage season on June 24th from the feast of St. John the Baptist until October, before all the Mount Lussari covered itself with snow.

THE LUNCH

After the pictures we ran to our favorite terrace, the Meschnik hut where we ordered Frico and Spetzel (a kind of spinach gnocchi with smoked ricotta) and 2 beers. Since we were the only ones we could leave Giorgino free, wandering without fear from our table to the meadows below.

Needless to say that the food was delicious and also the sweets we chose later. For fear of being all closed we had brought rice with vegetables and not to make mistakes … we ate that too!

I do not tell you the face of the waitress: D.

^^^ The Meschik hut ^^^

^^^ Selfie and Giorgino at lunch with me  :,D ^^^

^^^ The beauty  of the Meschnik terrace ^^^

Guys the tops from up here are a real show. Really to be hours and hours looking at them. The song of the birds, the sun that begins to set. This remains one of my favorite places throughout Friuli Venezia Giulia. You can not come here at least once in the summer and maybe stop to sleep and wake up in this enchantment.

END

And so ‘after a good “snack” and having enjoyed the view a little bit we took the path and returned to our car. In short, a nice afternoon at 2 steps from home.

But how much I love my Friuli Venezia Giulia: D

And you? Have you ever been here on the pilgrim’s path?

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TREKKING IN VAL ALBA  

Follow me on instagram @theitaliansmoothie and facebook -> QUI 

Sunbathing, hiking, lunch in the shelters, kayaking, boat rides, bike paths that line the lake, many baths in the lake and more.

Here’s what to do during a holiday on Lake Millstatt am See in Austria.

WHERE

Simon had heard about Lake Millstatt just 40 minutes from Villach long ago. At the end of May there was the opportunity to do 2 days out of town and we took the chance to visit this area of Austria and to do some good hiking in the mountains.

We booked the 4-star hotel Am See – Die Forelle which is right in the middle of the lake in the town of Millstatt. The Hotel is a mix. The dining rooms are in classic style while the terrace overlooking the lake and the dehor are modern and welcoming. Many of the rooms, the swimming pool, the garden and the breakfast room are overlooking the calm waters of the Millstatter see.

PET-FRIENDLY HOLIDAYS

We opted for the room on the lower floor with the largest terrace overlooking the lake, in this way our dog Giorgino had more space to roam especially while we were having breakfast (because the dogs are not allowed in the breakfast room – Sadness).

Apart from this the only problems (but classics throughout Austria) is that the restaurant closed at 20.00 – no way: O – and that there was never a barman at the bar and to drink a beer you had to look for the staff.

But otherwise everything is super.

Incredible breakfast of sweet and savory that you can also eat outdoors, pretty SPA and also the swimming pool not bad. In addition, the hotel is located right in the center and to go out for dinner just take a walk.

^^^ Giorgino love the room ^^^

^^^ The hotel terrace on the left ^^^

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