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.JPG "San Martino di Castrozza seen from the peak of the Rosetta. Photo: Daniela Anderson.")
The town of San Martino di Castrozza began to form in the mid-1800s when the Pale 
| The town of San Martino di Castrozza seen from the peak of the Rosetta. Photo: Daniela Anderson. |
The arrival of mostly British alpinists of the Victorian era sparked the development of better accommodations than what the ancient medieval monastery could provide. The man responsible for the transformation of the old priory from uncomfortable hospice to comfortable mountain hotel was Leopoldo Ben, the structure administrator, who understood the area's potential for development. In 1883 he called to San Martino Hermann Panzer, who was born in Leipzig and had great experience in hotel management. In twenty years of painstaking work he changed the Albergo Alpino, offering just 25 beds, into the more capacious and sophisticated Hotel des Dolomites. The medieval priory building also was turned into a hotel for less demanding customers. .JPG "Majestic Hotel Dolomiti in San Martino di Castrozza. Photo: Daniela Anderson")
Ben and Panzer’s intuition was a winning one and within a few years the new Hotel des Dolomites could accommodate even the most difficult guests. They were members of the aristocracy and the middle European bourgeoisie, attracted by the presence of the beautiful Pale di San Martino, and they expected an arrangement to suit their rank: sophisticated food and service, wide rooms, reading rooms with books and magazines from their own countries, ball rooms and concert rooms.
Through the publication of personal diaries detailing the wonders of the Pale, San Martino began to grow and thrive as an elegant and charming alpine playground for Europe’s aristocratic high society. Today, San Martino continues its tradition as a much loved, highly-considered, European vacation destination for all backgrounds and ages.
.JPG "Downtown San Martino di Castrozza. Photo: Daniela Anderson")
Downtown San Martino di Castrozza. Photo: Daniela Anderson
San Martino and its neighboring villages in the Primiero valley below are typical of small Tyrolean towns.
Flowers spill out of boxes on every balcony of every building. The musical dinging of cowbells is heard in the surrounding meadows, woods, and peaks as dairy cows roam freely on the mountainside. The woods are quiet and peaceful. Pine needles cushion your step while the wonderful earthy smell of mushrooms peeking up through the moss permeates the air. The nearby meadows edging the town are covered with wildflowers, so tall and abundant that you could retreat into a sea of color with a good book and no one would ever find you! The charm of the chalet-styled houses and the cheerfulness of everyone you meet captures the warmth and indomitable spirit that is so typical of this region's alpine culture.
One of the most exquisite assaults on your senses is, of course, the wine, grappa, and the cuisine.
There is so much to see and do in San Martino di Castrozza and the Primiero and Vanoi valleys.
The official social calendar for San Martino and the neighboring valley is unbelievably rich with every possible type of event imaginable.
The Azienda per il Turismo di San Martino, Primiero and Vanoi, known affectionately as the APT, outdoes itself every year in ensuring that San Martino and the neighboring valleys of Primiero and Vanoi maintain their elevated position as being the true mecca for all kinds of culinary, social, sporting, intellectual and cultural events for all ages. A visitor armed with the printed, daily, seasonal guide (the 2008 summer edition was a book almost ½ inch thick!) will wonder how to find a way to stay the entire season just to experience some of the wonderful events that take place here.
The Sounds of the Dolomites, a musical concert series, is a seasonal favorite. The Tastes of the Dolomites series allows wines and foods originating in the Trentino region to take center-stage. Cultural festivals of all kinds, many centuries old, abound throughout the season. Children's puppet shows and other productions are fun for the whole family. Traditional dancers, musicians and singers delight vacationers with their incredibly beautiful costumes, instruments and voices. You might even receive an impromptu yodeling lesson if you are lucky!
Sporting events of all kinds allow you to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. For the car fanatics, the world-famous Rallye Internazionale di San Martino e Primiero will leave you breathless as you watch race cars slide through turns on some of the most hair-raising “tornanti” (switchbacks) in the Dolomites! The Rally begins and ends in town, and runs its course through several villages throughout the valley. The sights and sounds of Italian racecars echoing through the mountain peaks will leave your blood pounding with excitement!
.JPG "There are many wonderful hotels in San Martino. Photo: Daniela Anderson.")
San Martino boasts some of the most beautiful and elegant hotels in the Dolomites, rich with history dating back to the mid-1800’s.
You will find impeccable room and concierge service, with amenities to satisfy anyone's desires. Indoor swimming pools and saunas, wellness day spas, fitness centers, game rooms, children's daycare centers, gourmet restaurants, up-to-date computer and internet services, intimate nooks by inviting fireplaces, and complimentary outings and excursions with the famous alpine guides known as the Aquile (Eagles) of San Martino are just some of the ways in which many of the wonderful hotels keep their guests pampered. Here, you can choose between top-notch 4-star hotels with all the bells and whistles, or smaller, intimate inns with more rustic, Tyrolean charm. Either way, visitors to San Martino get the red carpet rolled out for them every day of the year!
(Portions of text on the historical origins of San Martino were translated from texts written by Luca Brunet for the Agency for Tourism San Martino, Primiero and Vanoi.)
We can’t wait for you to visit!
