Think of an accordion and you’ll imagine folk nights, barn dances and Highland or country dance revivals.

Well, think again. A clever musician has reinvented the way music groups interact with each other. 

Time to look at some key figures in the history of the Dolomites.

Even if you are not a keen climber, and may well be scared of heights, knowing what happened in the past in the region you are visiting – or intending to visit – is certainly enriching.

Emilio Comici played a pivotal role in the history of alpinism.  You may see videos of him dancing on the rocks, in somewhat comic and old-fashioned stills, and may wonder how this apparently crazy climber became famous. He has written, in fact, chapters on the art of climbing, primarily concerning style.  We all know things can be done in two ways in life: with care and style, or just to get by.  You can see many people trying to get to the top of a line or mountain, adopting any mean they can think of, just for the sake of reaching the zenith. Nothing could have been further away from Emilio’s mentality.

We have all heard of the word “Latin”. It was a language spoken at the time of Julius Caesar, used by the poet Ovid – but also until the Renaissance and beyond - and still offers an unbeatable basis if you want to learn and explore foreign languages.

 “Ladin”, however, is not so widely known. It is the original language spoken in South Tyrol. Officially acknowledge in 1951, thus granting the autonomous province of Bozen three official languages: Italian, German and Ladin. 69,9% of people speaks German in South Tyrol, 26,6% speaks Italian, while only 4,53% communicates in Ladin. In the entire Dolomite range, only 38,000 people speak Ladin.This low percentage does not mean the language is forgotten; in fact, far from it.  

A catholic feast to celebrate being together, joy, humour, but also to remember a world full of mystery, ancient rites and old traditions, elaborate masks and high class costumes. Carnival was already part of the Roman Saturnalia, an old festival in ancient Rome, but also in Egypt and in Babylon. As we conceive it today, Carnival and its tradition started in the Middle Ages and were always associated with Lent.

Many cities and small hamlets all over Italy organise events of various types, and South Tyrol plays its part, too: highly elaborate floats, theatre shows, wooden masks and ancient costumes. All this, and more, makes this catholic feast a superb way of celebrating happiness, whose soul has been untouched for centuries.

This may well be the most loved souvenir for tourists. It is, however, an inseparable work companion for many people from South Tyrol. Some people even say that this attire has become trendy and stylish, if worn in an appropriate way.

Not dictated by fashion, but by sheer comfort. Without that very peculiar overall, which covers them up to the knees, they feel half naked. We are talking about farmers, wine-growers, workers or retired people who take up DIY. Primarily men, but we find women, too. Over the years, this garment has become unisex, and this traditional option has become an inseparable outfit, with a retro hue.  What are we talking about?

We are talking about the unmistakable blue apron, the emblem of the South Tyrol worker. It has to be noted that more and more tourists, especially coming from big cities, seem to appreciate it. 

A catholic feast to celebrate being together, joy, humour, but also to remember a world full of mystery, ancient rites and old traditions, elaborate masks and high class costumes. Carnival was already part of the Roman Saturnalia, an old festival in ancient Rome, but also in Egypt and in Babylon. As we conceive it today, Carnival and its tradition started in the Middle Ages and were always associated with Lent.

Many cities and small hamlets all over Italy organise events of various types, and South Tyrol plays its part, too: highly elaborate floats, theatre shows, wooden masks and ancient costumes. All this, and more, makes this catholic feast a superb way of celebrating happiness, whose soul has been untouched for centuries.

Do not be scared!  You are most probably planning your stay at Ciasa Salares, or are enjoying it right now, and may well not want to be bombarded with frightening information about your safety… but this is important.

The small church of Saint Barbara, on the hills towering over the hamlet of La Valle, in Alta Badia, is set in a panoramic, picturesque location. The inhabitants of the area still remember the story of the lords of Rü: they had buried money and precious jewels in the land near the church, several centuries ago. 

South Tyrol is a land of many myths and legends, of the most disparate kinds. The one of Dolasilla, the heroine warrior of the Fanes population, contains a sad truth: yearning for power ultimately brings only pain and sorrows.