Discover Germany, Switzerland & Austria
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Travel Feature
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South Tyrol
SOUTH TYROL: TRADITION, TASTE AND TRAILS IN ITALY’S NORTH Europe's varied history has redrawn many borders over centuries, and South Tyrol, Italy's northernmost province, stands as a testament to this evolution.
Until 1918, it was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, but this predominantly German-speaking territory was occupied by Italy during World War I. After World War II, the Allies decided South Tyrol would remain part of Italy, granting it considerable autonomy and allowing it to retain 90% of revenue which makes it one of the wealthiest regions in Europe. 64
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Issue 12 4
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December 2024
VILLANDERS "We actually don't identify as Italian or Austrian but South Tyrolean," says Elisabeth Rabensteiner in her native German. She runs the historic Ansitz Zum Steinbock Hotel in the small village of Villanders. "We've got the Austrian mentality, Italian food and fashion, and German work ethics and efficiency." To-
day, nearly 70% of the population still speaks German. And it is not just the language (all public signs are bilingual) but also the customs and traditions which sets this region apart from the rest of Italy. The Villanderer Alm, a seasonal mountain pasture at altitudes between 1700 and 2500
TEXT: WIBKE CARTER
Cross country skiing in the Dolomites. Photo: KOTTERSTEGER