Driving to Corvara

14 July - heading into the Dolomites now.  Our first stop was Lago di Carezza, a beautiful clear mountain lake which we walked around, enjoying the views.

Lago di Carezza

Zig zags at 1570m

Approaching Passo Pordoi

Passo Pordoi, we were at 2240m, this gondola rose high into the clouds to reach 2950m!

Corvara - a very attractive modern ski town.  We camped here.

Corvara

Trento and Bolzano

13 July - It was time to depart Asiago and head further north into the Dolomites.  We were surprised to find that the language spoken here in Northern Italy is German, and that signs were in German.

Trento - the old quarter of this city had a very spacious feel, and the frescoes on the walls were breathtaking.

In Bolzano we visited the Iceman Museum.  The body of an ice-age hunter emerged from a glacier and was extremely well-preserved.  This picture is a reconstruction but we did see the original partly-clothed body through a window into a freezer.  A lot of research is continuing into the man and the many artefacts he was carrying.  It was a very interesting small museum.

Out and about around Asiago - often in the rain.

It rained almost every day while we were in Asiago, but we still managed to get out for some enjoyable walks and a bike ride.

A walk up to Mount Zebio

From the summit looking down to a farmhouse and cafe. 

In a WWI trench on the summit of Mount Zebio, 1717m.

A war memorial on a nearby hill with some bits and pieces from the trenches.  Walking down afterward we were caught in a heavy hailstorm.

We hired mountain bikes and rode a 12km trail (and return) along an old railway line from Asiago to Campiello.

The old railway station - note that raincoats were needed yet again.

Another day walk, this time to Monte Fiore

The fog was building up rapidly at the summit of Monte Fiore, 1824.  I was very glad of my GPS to get us back to our car!

The fog turned to torrential rain, we just made it back to a farmhouse near our car and waited it out.  The farmer made the most of the opportunity to sell us a half round of his home-made cheese.

Asiago - Sacrario Militaire

Rising up on a hill close to Asiago is the Sacrario Militaire.  This is a monument to soldiers who died in WW1.  The bodies of 50,000 soldiers of all nationalities were gathered to be buried here, which makes it a very sobering place to visit.  There are so many reminders of the fighting around here - old trenches, memorials and many graveyards in the surrounding countryside and forests.

Asiago - "Des Alpes" our apartment

6-13 July

A long distance view of our apartment building  - its main role is as a ski resort.

Our apartment was on the top floor - one of those with a pointy roof and a wooden balcony fence.

Inside - plenty of electronics!

View from our balcony - another ski resort building below, and Spar supermarket just beyond - very convenient.  In the distance is a huge war memorial - more later.

We did not have very good weather in Asiago - it rained almost every day, but this was another view from our balcony on a rare sunny morning.

This foggy morning was rather beautiful.

Asiago - Northern Italy - stilt walkers and fire show

6 July - arrival in Asiago.  We stayed here for a week, in an apartment with some orienteering friends from New Zealand.  On the first evening the township put on a wonderful outdoor show for the hundreds of visitors who had arrived for 5 days of orienteering in this region.

Candles are lit in the central square.

Stilt walkers and fire!

Bassano del Grappa

July 6 - Heading north-west from Venice to Asiago.  One of our stops was at the township of Bassano del Grappa.  This was a town with wide open piazzas and a covered bridge.  It is most famous for grappa - "firewater" made from pomace (discarded grape seeds, stalks and stems).  Potent stuff!  We visited the Poli distillery and Owen bought a bottle which he shared with friends for the rest of our trip.

River Brenta

Owen on the covered bridge - note the grand piano!

This famous covered bridge was designed by Palladio in 1569.  It has been rebuilt several times - the last time after WWII.