Sass Maor and Cima della Madonna exibiting the Enrosadira.  San Martino Di Castrozza.

Photo courtesy of Jack Brauer Photography.

Mountain Photography by Jack Brauer

THE ENROSADIRA PHENOMENON

(AND THE LEGEND OF KING LAURINO)

It is the unique make-up of Dolomite, the special composition of calcium carbonate and magnesium, which gives the peaks their famous rose pink color. In late afternoon as the sun begins to set, these much loved mountains begin to "glow" in ever-changing hues of subtle pink and rose that gradually turns to purple. This phenomenon is what the Ladins call the Enrosadira, which literally means "to become rose-coloured."  Visitors often stop in their tracks to gaze in wonder at the "glowing" peaks as twilight descends. The colors are never the same twice and the daily evening spectacle is mesmerizing.

That is where the scientific explanation ends...and the legend of King Laurino becomes the more romantic and entertaining explanation for this extraordinary event!

The legend of king laurino

The legend of the "Pale Mountains" tells of the magic kingdom of the dwarfs governed by King Laurino, who had a splendid rose garden on Mount Catinaccio.  King Laurino wanted to marry the beautiful princess Similda, and sent three of his dwarfs to ask for her hand.  When she refused, King Laurino decided to resort to magic and kidnap her.  Seven years later, thanks to the existence of the roses, Similda's brother managed to find King Laurino's kingdom and, after a bitter battle, defeated the king of the dwarfs.  After being captured by the foreign warriors, Laurino cursed the flowers that had betrayed him and ordered the roses no longer to flower, either during the day or at night.  However, he forgot to mention twilight... and that is why the Enrosadira still flowers today on the beautiful Dolomite Mountains at sunset.

Mountain seen during daylight.

(second version)

The good King Laurino had a beautiful daughter, Ladina, who lived happily with her father in their magnificent kingdom. One day, the Prince of Latemer, made curious by the presence of those stupendous roses in such a harsh and wild setting, entered the kingdom of Laurino, saw Ladina, and fell hopelessly in love.  He decided to kidnap her and take her back with him to Latemer and make her his bride.  Laurino, desperate at the loss of his daughter, cursed the flowers that had betrayed him by revealing the location of his kingdom, and ordered the roses no longer to flower, neither by day nor by night.  However, he had forgotten about twilight, and that is why, even to this day, the Enrosadira still flowers at sunset on the splendid dolomite mountains.  (text translated loosely from the description posted by the Azienda per il Turismo della Val di Fassa)