DAY ONE

DAY TWO

• Today we begin our vacation with a morning tour of the town of San Martino di Castrozza, pointing out landmarks and important points of reference, such as the emergency center and the visitors' information center. Guests will have an opportunity to explore town, relax, or catch up on jet lag for the rest of the morning.  If you would like to add a more active activity after the tour of town, you can join Daniela for a leisurely stroll along the "O Piccolo," a path in the woods on the edge of town known for its many bubbling brooks and small waterfalls.

• Lunch will take place at the hotel, followed by our first, structured, afternoon class. Students are free to enjoy the rest of their afternoon and evening on their own.  Dinner tonight is at the hotel. There will be a welcoming meeting after dinner to introduce your instructors and guides, outline the coming week, and hand out welcome packets containing schedules, maps, the town's social calendar, and other pertinent materials for your vacation.
  

• Our after-dinner educational topic is a very interesting presentation on the history of San Martino di Castrozza viewed through a very rare collection of postcards dating over 100 years. The program was researched, developed and currently is presented by Marco Toffol, whose family is considered to be one of the region's most influential and historically important pioneering families in the hotel and tourism culture.  Marco offers his very popular presentation to each of our groups vacationing with us in San Martino di Castrozza and the Primiero valley.

• A private degustation of wines paired with regional delicacies will take place during the week at "La Mia Enoteca," a charming wine bar that was owned by a retired, celebrated alpine guide. Renzo Debertolis is recognized as being one of the guides in the 20th century who helped shape alpinism in the region and forge some of the paths and ascents to difficult local peaks. His picture and accounts of his accomplishments are included in a few books on the region, and these books can be purchased in town. Renzo's son, Matteo, will be on hand for the private digustation for our guests. This event is optional, and participants pay their fee directly to "La Mia Enoteca."

Luciano Da Canal from Girovagando in Trentino shares a glass of wine with Renzo Debertolis in his wine bar, La Mia Enoteca. Photo courtesy of Agh, Girovagando in Trentino.

 

Luciano Da Canal from Girovagando in Trentino shares a glass of wine with Renzo Debertolis in his wine bar, La Mia Enoteca. Photo courtesy of Agh, Girovagando in Trentino.

DAY THREE

• Today our group will visit Passo Rolle, the seventh highest pass in all of Europe, where we will visit the Baita Segantini (2200m) nestled at the base of Cimon della Pala, and located at the high end of Val Venegia. This little structure, loved and respected for its historical importance to the area, is situated in one of the most coveted areas in the entire region. Guests will have the option to enjoy peaceful relaxation among the peaks or explore the nearby area following an easy, walking path with our full-time outdoor/ nature photography instructor, Alessandro Simon.

• After visiting the Baita, our group will make its way to one of the most famous restaurants and local landmarks in the area, the Malga Ces.  Known for its exquisite cuisine, phenomenal attention to presentation, and charming and  traditional decorations, this is a not-to-be-missed event while you are in San Martino. This unique farm-turned-restaurant has been in existence for many decades, and it is here that the famous Tosela cheese was first created and perfected.

• Prior to lunch, students will enjoy a hands-on opportunity to make Spaetzle during a very special cooking demonstration given by the chef in the restaurant's kitchen.  This activity has been created exclusively for the Alpine Adventure Agency.
  

• After lunch, we head back into town for our second, structured, afternoon class. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.

Maria Giovanna, owner of the Malga Ces, watches as one of her chefs demonstrates the preparation of Spaetzle to our group. Photo: Daniela Anderson

Actively participating in the cooking demo is one of the day's highlights! Photo: Daniela Anderson

Photos of Malga Ces courtesy of Angelani Silvano.

DAY FOUR

• Today's morning excursion takes us away from San Martino and into the stunning Val Canali.  We will make a few stops along the way for photo opportunities of beautiful glacier lakes, and spectacular rocky peaks.  We will be met at our final destination by Nicola and Marzia Cemin, who have invited us to their lovely, historic Inn, Cant Del Gal. This charming inn is situated deep in the mountains at the beginning of many well-known excursion trails into the peaks and the Altopiano.

• We will have the opportunity to relax on the porch and enjoy the splendid and serene view. Guests who would like to walk can go with Daniela for a leisurely stroll along the trail nearby to Malga Canali and its commanding views of the valley and the Pale di San Martino.

• Our gourmet lunch is custom-designed for our group and features a truly unique tableside presentation that always elicits exclamations of delight! Following lunch, Nicola and Marzia will lead a cooking demonstration of a delicious regional dessert known as Kaiserschmarrn (a sweet tyrolean omlette originating in the Austrian alps just a few hours away) served with a variety of toppings, including the traditional warm sauce made with frutti di bosco. Nicola is very active in the community and works to maintain the valley's culture, legends and history.  His presentations are a combination of culinary explanations interspersed with folklore, legend, and a feel for the passion that the people of the valley put into everything they do, including the preparation of their food.  Today's outing has always been a favorite on our past tours.

• After the cooking demonstration, our group will return to San Martino, after which we will have our third, structured afternoon class at the hotel.  Tonight, dinner is at the hotel.

Val Canali is known for its glacier streams and lakes.Photo: Maxine Jones.

A breathtaking glacier lake in Val Canali. Photo: Ingrid Wessel.

Val Canali is one of the scenic highlights in our dream vacations. Photo: Daniela Anderson

A group of happy knitters being spoiled at the Cant del Gal!

Photos: Daniela Anderson

DAY FIVE

• Today we satisfy the lovers of yarn and fiber, art and architecture, history and traditional folklore, and last but not least, fine wine and cuisine!  Today will be spent in the Primiero Valley.

• Our first stop as a group will be to a culinary landmark along the Strada dei Formaggi (the Street of the Cheeses).  The Caseificio Sociale Comprensoriale di Primiero is home to some famous, award-winning cheeses in Italy.  Our group will enjoy a private tour of the factory, watch the cheese production up close, and sample to your heart's content. Click here to view more photos of our tour of the cheese factory in our media gallery.  Click here to view an episode of Girovagando in Trentino which includes the molded butter-making demo we will see (3:15 on the counter).

• Following our visit to the cheese factory, we make our way to the studio of Lucia Trotter.  Lucia's family is renown in the Primiero Valley for being  artisans of fine weaving, and they have had a presence in the valley for centuries.  We will be treated to a wonderful demonstration of traditional weaving on a hand-carved, antique loom that is centuries old, and the chance to examine some beautiful fabrics, some of which are over 150 years old, and whose technique and design were invented by Lucia's grandfather. More photos of this extraordinary weaving family and their unusual designs and textiles will be added to our media gallery by the end of January, 2010. Click here to view an episode of Girovagando in Trentino which includes a visit to Lucia's studio (8:25 on the counter).

• Lunch today is at the Antica Rosa Pizzeria and Restaurant in the beautiful pedestrian zone of Fiera di Primiero.

• A very special visit with internationally respected wood sculptor,  Silvano Zeni, is planned for early afternoon. The Zeni brothers are most famous for their sculptures that adorn the entrances to the Euro-Tunnel between England and France. Their work encompasses both traditional sculptures as well as the traditional Tyrolean figurines, nativity scenes and woodland fauna that is quickly disappearing as an artisan art form today. Because of the close friendship between Silvano and Daniela, our group is offered a private tour of the studio and store and a demonstration of traditional wood sculpting.  Silvano also encourages people in the group to try their hand at sculpting! This is an exclusive feature of a vacation with the Alpine Adventure Agency.

• Following our visit at the wood sculpting studio, our group will have some time to relax before we head back to San Martino. For guests participating in our fiber-related workshops, a special trip to the the yarn shop in town takes place at this time. This is a very interesting store where you can find other fiber-related items besides knitting supplies and yarn.  In the past, this store even has had a locally made, traditional spinning wheel in the style of the Primiero Valley for sale. Here, you can find sewing supplies, limited fabrics, lace edgings, and a variety of other thread-related items.

• Our group returns to San Martino, after which we will have our fourth, structured afternoon class.  Tonight, dinner is at the hotel.
  

• This evening, students taking place in our fiber-arts workshops will have the opportunity to participate in a very special after-dinner event. We will return to the valley to spend the rest of the evening with a small group of local Tyrolean knitters and crocheters  who still knit/ crochet in the old way.  They are looking forward to meeting us and sharing items typical of this region.  One item will be the authentic Tyrolean lace and cable socks still being knit by women who learned the pattern from their mothers and grandmothers.  Lower on this page is a large photo of the Beatrich, a renown local yodeling trio, wearing the traditional socks typical of this region!  The yarn used was handspun, and the socks were knit by Nicola's mother, who belongs to the local group having dinner with us.

View of the pedestrian zone and downtown Fiera di Primiero seen from the Clarofonte Gardens. Photo: Ingrid Wessel

Silvano Zeni demonstrates the art of regional Tyrolean wood sculpting.  His studio offers local courses that are available throughout the year.  Here, Daniela Anderson takes a turn at sculpting during one of our knitting workshop group visits to the Primiero Valley. Photo: Maxine Jones.

Daniela and Stephen introduce you to some of their best friends in the world, The Beatrich!  Photo: Ugo Bettega

• Today there are no group activities or class scheduled.  It is a chance for each guest to enjoy some down time, or explore places or things not on the group schedule.  Lunch today is on your own! Daniela will be available during the week for consultation on things to do and see in the area, as well as help arrange transportation or other details if necessary.

• Daniela has a very special group activity available for those who would like to take full advantage of being able to see more of the region.  The Alpine Adventure Agency's signature one-day bus tour of the most beautiful Dolomitic Passes will be available as an "a la carte" mini-package.  We will leave San Martino di Castrozza at 9am and return between 5-6pm.  Among the many beautiful places we visit,  we will enjoy the cable car ride up to the peak of the famed Sass Pordoi.  Afterwards, we will travel to Passo Sella, where a fabulous lunch has been planned for us at  the exclusive Rifugio Salei, a chalet  frequented by Prince Albert of Monaco and Michael Schumacher of Ferrari Formula One fame among its many famous guests (view their visits in the Salei's photo gallery)

• Join Daniela and Alessandro as they escort you to the most beautiful locations that the Italian Dolomites have to offer. Click here to view package details, itinerary, and pricing.  Click here to view the photo album of the tour.

Polenta cooling in the farmhouse kitchen of the Malga Pala. Photo: Daniela Anderson

Alessandro Simon, our full-time nature photography instructor, will be on hand to assist you during our spectacular photo opportunities. Photo: Daniela Anderson.

The view from the deck of the Ristorante Rosetta looking across the cable car landing towards Cimon della Pala.  Photo: Daniela Anderson.

DAY EIGHT

• This morning is a lazy morning.  Our group will not meet up for an organized activity until lunch, which will take place at the Caffe Col, a charming farm, restaurant and Inn that has been in existence for many generations. Students have a few choices on how to get to the restaurant for lunch.  Our transportation vehicle will pick students up around 10am and take you out so you can relax in their lovely garden terrace or inside sitting area and enjoy the breathtaking views until the rest of the group arrives.  Students might also choose to enjoy the 10-minute walk from town to the outskirts where Caffe Col is located.

• Daniela hopes that many students will choose the awe-inspiring way to get to lunch by joining her on her favorite easy walking trail from the time she was a child. The outing on the Strada Alta has been Daniela's favorite excursion since childhood because it is an easy hike for the whole family, yet has some of the most beautiful and breath-taking views of the rocky peaks.

• The Strada Alta/ Pez Gaiart is a well-maintained bike path that meanders through the woods just above town. The loop, beginning and ending in town, is about 6 km/ 3.73 miles. It does have gentle ascents and descents and takes about 1.5 hours to complete walking at an easy pace without stopping. We plan on a 3 hour outing that includes time to stop and knit, enjoy a snack, take pictures, explore the amazing variety of waterfalls and wildflowers, and gaze in amazement at the spectacular scenery. Our group will only complete 2/3 of the loop because we will stop when we reach Caffe Col to have lunch with the others.

• Those students interested in joining Daniela and Alessandro, The Alpine Adventure Agency's full-time photography instructor, will meet up after breakfast at the base of the Cable Car Colverde.

• The group will make its way through the meadow to Caffe Col to join the others for lunch.  Following lunch, we will enjoy the last structured afternoon classes back at the hotel.

The path emerges in Val di Roda and Prati Ces, where our group will delight in the discovery of a true echo valley. Kids and adults alike have a ball trying out the echo, which is so distinct that each sound is separated by a moment of silence in between. Here the meadows and flowers are abundant, cows graze peacefully on the hills, and children run to their hearts' content. Photo: Daniela Anderson

DAY NINE - VENICE

• This morning, we leave San Martino very early so that we can enjoy a full day in Venice!  After depositing our luggage at our hotel just outside of this magnificent city, we will board the train at the station connected to the hotel by an underground gallery, and be whisked away for a day of delights!  Today, you have the freedom and flexibility and choice to explore on your own, or make some loosely structured stops to various venues with the group, or both!  For the fiber-enthusiasts, there is a very well-known yarn shop in Venice that is not to be missed, as well as several stores where you can find some beautiful glass beads.  The lace-makers are found on the island of Burano, and the glass-blowing factories are on the island of Murano. There is no organized group lunch or dinner so that everyone has the opportunity to take full advantage of the visit.

• Our first stop after boarding our own, privately chauffered boat will be a private demonstration and invaluable "mini-conference" at the studio of the most  famous family of mask makers in Venice, Mario and Antonella Belloni . Ca' Macana is one of the oldest studios in Venice. They started working on masks at the beginning of the 1980s, when, after two centuries of inactivity, the Venice Carnival was revived. Our group will enjoy an unforgettable mini-workshop featuring mask-making techniques and an introduction through prints and historical paintings to the social history of Venice through the use of the mask in every-day culture throughout the centuries.  Our guests will leave with an enhanced perspective of Venice with the knowledge gleaned from our visit with Mario and Antonella.

• Our other organized activity, aimed at the fiber enthusiasts in the group,  is a visit to Lellabella, Venice's premiere Local Yarn Shop!  Monica and her mother Lella (for whom Lellabella was named) love having our groups visit, and are ready to show you some beautiful yarns as well as some ethereal, silk and cashmere shawls woven exclusively for them on 400 year old looms found in a French Chateau years ago.  Lella is known for her one-of-a-kind knitted sweaters, shawls, and other items, many of which are available for sale in the shop.  There is something for everyone in this wonderful little boutique, so prepare to leave space in your suitcase for stash-enhancing goodies!

• Lunch is on your own today, but you are welcome to join Daniela for lunch at her favorite place to sit and relax in Venice, The Caffe' Florian, in Piazza San Marco. This not-to-be-missed landmark, opened in 1720, is Italy's oldest caffe´. The elegant surroundings attracted many of the notables of the day including the playwright Carlo Goldoni, Goethe and Casanova, who was no doubt attracted by the fact that Caffè Florian was the only coffee house that allowed women, and later Lord Byron, Marcel Proust, and Charles Dickens were frequent visitors. It was one of the few places where Gasparo Gozzi's early newspaper Gazzetta Veneta could be bought, and became a meeting place for people from different social classes. In the mid-18th century the Florian expanded to four rooms (excerpt from Wikipedia article).

• Among the many stories and legends of Venice, The Florian is renown for being the place to which Casanova fled for an espresso after being the only person to escape successfully from the Doge's Palace, but before leaving Venice for good. The Florian serenades its guests daily with a live orchestra and offers its guests a very pleasant reprieve from the sun and crowds in Piazza San Marco.  Waiters here are required to be fluent in several languages, and many have been loyal employees for decades.

• The Florian has been Daniela's favorite place in Venice to stop and enjoy a refreshment or light meal since she was a young teenager, and many of the waiters have known her for years.  Her guests enjoy the royal treatment the minute they arrive.  Make sure to go inside to see the beautiful marble work, antique furniture and fine art.  This special place truly is one of the most remarkable places to sit and knit or crochet in the world!

• The afternoon is free time for you to explore to your heart's content.  Daniela sets up command central at her favorite table at the Florian, and is available to answer questions, hold bags while you tour the landmarks nearby, or provide any other assistance needed.  If you feel comfortable making your way around town and returning to the hotel by train on your own, you are free to stay as long as you wish.  Each person will receive a printed train schedule which will give you the times that our particular train departs to go back towards our hotel.  The group officially will leave Venice together in the late afternoon so we can return to the hotel in time for a group dinner and have time to prepare for the next morning's transfer to the airport.

• For those in our group who want to make the most of their day in Venice and know ahead of time that they want to visit certain attractions, there are specialized packages that can be purchased online to beat the crowd.  Click here to peruse all 30 Venice mini-tours. 
  

• If you would like a more personalized, custom visit to Venice, Daniela can work with you to plan every step of your visit. We take time during your vacation to help each guest plan out individual priorities for the day we visit this legendary city. If you are interested in staying a few extra days, we would be happy to help you make arrangements. The Alpine Adventure Agency has an excellent relationship with a wonderful hotel that offers special rates exclusively to our guests and who can arrange 24/7 shuttle service to and from the Marco Polo airport. The train station's platform for the 20 minute train ride into Venice is connected to the hotel's parking lot by an underground gallery making your visit to this spectacular city safe and easy. If you would rather stay in the heart of Venice, we would be happy to arrange accommodations that fit your needs

View of the Gran Canal. Photo: Daniela Anderson

Venetian mask from Ca Macana.

One of the several dinings rooms inside the Caffe' Florian. Photo: courtesy of Wikipedia.

A typical canal in a quiet residential part of Venice. Photo: Daniela Anderson.

Thanks to our many close relationships with business owners and personal friends, our guests enjoy many personalized experiences when our group visits Venice. Here, Matteo, our personal taxi driver, chauffers some of our guests down the Grand Canal. Photo: Daniela Anderson

DAY TEN

• Today the group dissolves for individual departure destinations. Transportation by taxi/shuttle service will be arranged for each guest to the  Marco Polo Airport.   The Alpine Adventure Agency gladly will be of assistance if would like to stay another few days or need assistance with any other accomodation while you are in Italy.  We look forward to having you join us again for future dream vacations!  A presto!