Monticolo

Driving from the roundabout at San Michele Appiano towards Monticolo (Montiggl), you'll find yourself immersed in woodland. On the edge of the municipality lies the Monticolo Forest nature reserve, home to the two Monticolo Lakes. Before the road ends at the large car park, you'll pass the Monticolo campground and the turn-off for the Ronchi sports facilities.

The football pitch, nestled in the natural landscape, is well-used: Not only does FC Südtirol train here, but also the German national team when they set up their summer training camp in Appiano on the Wine Road. Monticolo itself consists of a few farmhouses and the Church of the Three Kings, whose bell dates back to 1505. Another noteworthy building sits a little further along the lakeshore: the romantic Lake Castle, a small, medieval-style castle.

It blends harmoniously with its surroundings, its windows are adorned with pointed arches and gables. Today, it's a popular photographic subject - in the past, it served as inspiration. The painter Max Sparer (1886-1968) immortalised the lakeside castle in many of his works. You'll find yourself in a recreational area appreciated by cyclists, hikers, swimmers and those seeking tranquillity in equal measure. Wooden walkways traverse the biotope along one shore of the Big Monticolo Lake.

At the other end, you can jump from the cliffs. A hiking trail leads to the Small Monticolo Lake. Both lakes have a lido, as the bathing establishments here are known, following the Italian model. You can also hike in the opposite direction: through the Spring Valley to Lake Caldaro.