Relax in a Mediterranean landscape of palm trees and vines – ‘la dolce vita’ on Lake Caldaro in the south of South Tyrol
Image gallery: Caldaro on the Wine Road
The first heralds of spring are breaking through the earth and enchanting the landscape... elsewhere, snow still lies and brown tones dominate the scenery, but in Caldaro on the Wine Road (Kaltern an der Weinstraße), everything becomes colourful a little earlier. Here in the Spring Valley (Frühlingstal), a sea of snowdrops already covers the ground at the end of winter. From here, it's a short walk to the shores of Lake Caldaro. It then takes a few more weeks before water sports enthusiasts take over the warmest bathing lake in the Alps: windsurfers and sailors, swimmers, and those enthusiastic about SUP, populate the water and the bathing establishments by the lake.
Right on the shore, nestled among reeds and wooden jetties, lies San Giuseppe al Lago (St. Josef am See). The other nine districts of Caldaro spread out towards Appiano and from the valley basin up the slope to the Mendola Pass: Pianizza di Sopra and Pianizza di Sotto with their venerable residences, the pilgrimage site of San Nicolò, and the tiny Pozzo, Sant’Antonio (St. Anton) – home to a high ropes course and the valley station of the Mendola Funicular – Castelvecchio with the Rastenbach Gorge, and the main villages of Villa di Mezzo and Caldaro village. There you can enjoy the Mediterranean flair and the high-quality products of the weekly farmers' market which takes place on the market square. Above the lake, Caldaro's landmark, the half-ruined Castelchiaro (Leuchtenburg), rises majestically. The houses of Campi al Lago (Klughammer) below are also considered part of Caldaro, but they actually belong to the municipality of Vadena (Pfatten) on the other side of the mountain.
The wine village is surrounded by a Mediterranean landscape of vineyards and orchards. Caldaro wine was first mentioned in documents in the 13th century, but even the Romans appreciated the pleasant climate and cultivated vines. The world-famous wine, and life itself, are still frequently celebrated today: culinary events such as the Caldaro Wine Festival, 'Caldaro Dressed in White', and 'Caldaro Dressed in Red' are followed by sporting events such as the Caldaro Lake Triathlon and the Caldaro Lake Run, and top live music at the Lake Stage Performances and the Caldaro Pop Festival. When the warmest months are over, the wineries and rustic wine tavern invite you to 'Törggele' evenings where you can taste the new wine.
