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ISO the Gimmelwald of Northern Italy

Hi folks!
If you are familiar with Rick's love of the Alpine town of Gimmelwald, Switzerland, then you'll know what I'm looking for in Northern Italy. A quiet, countryside spot with hiking/walking right out your door and views so unreal that you have to pinch yourself. A place just difficult enough to get to that it discourages most tourists on a tight schedule. That magical place that you keep photos of on your phone for years and years, a place you hope to return to again and again (even if it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience).

I've been searching the Dolomites for such a place, but I'm not set on going to the mountains. The other stops on my trip are Florence and Venice, so I am open to anywhere in between or outside of either city. If you have such an idyllic spot to recommend, I'd love to hear from you.

Posted by
17563 posts

The most beautiful place I know is Alpe di Siusi, a high meadow dotted with farms and hotels and surrounded by Dolomite peaks. It is mostly traffic-free, with hiking and biking trails right from your door.

https://www.val-gardena.com/en/alpe-di-siusi-italy/

https://travelandkeepfit.com/en/2021/11/29/alpe-di-siusi-seiser-alm-a-fairy-tale-plateau-in-the-dolomites/

I have been there several times, most recently 5 days last September with my family. We stayed in a small family-run hotel near Compatsch, but if you envision something more rustic, this nearby farm offers small apartments.

http://jagglschwaige.com/en/index.html

Posted by
11799 posts

Good advice from Lola especially as to walking out your door to hiking and scenery. Compatsch not so much a village as a base for visitors” activities but at night and early morning, very peaceful and as one wanders the Alpi di Siusi, the crowds thin. Moso/Moos over in the Sexten Dolomites is quaint and quiet, more of a ski destination than a hiking one. We found it very nice in June. We actually stayed in a agriturismo on the main street. Transportation not as slick as the Val Gardena and AdS or Gimmelwald and surrounding area, but good hiking.

Posted by
104 posts

Agree with Lola and Laurel that Alpe di Siusi is a lovely choice. If you are looking for an even more remote location, consider the Alta Badia holiday region in the Dolomites. The mountains are dotted with quaint mountain farm villages that make you feel as if you just stepped out of a time machine! We adored our time in the village of La Val: https://throneandvine.com/la-val-alta-badia/. This part of the Dolomites is dominated by the ancient Ladin culture, which adds a layer of fascination on top everything you see and experience.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks, everyone, for these tantalizing suggestions. It seems as though I'm going to need to plan a second trip entirely focused on visiting the quieter places in the Dolomites. And Pesariis...that really looks amazing!