Val di Fiemme to San Martino di Castrozza over Passo Rolle

In the alpine valleys of eastern Trentino lie the spectacular Dolomites, a UNESCO world heritage site. Here, the shadows cast from the mountains dance across the forests and meadows at their foot, a spectacle best admired from several natural platforms made easily accessible via a network of ski lifts and trails.

The mountains are best reached by car and this road trip itinerary starts from Predazzo, in Val di Fiemme, where visitors can discover the geological origins of the “Monti Pallidi” (Pale Mountains). Here visitors will find the Geological Museum of the Dolomites with its two floors of exhibits where they can learn about the mountains’ history and the meaning behind their nickname. The route then continues on to Valle del Travignolo towards the locality of Paneveggio where the Visitors’ Centre of the Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino Nature Park is located. From a large terrace alongside the road facing out onto the deer enclosure, visitors can take in the view of the Pale di San Martino peaks over the famous “Forest of Violins” where Stradivari personally chose the timber for creating his musical instruments.

After Passo Valles, the road climbs along hairpin bends towards Passo Rolle. From here, on foot or by ski lift, visitors can reach the Baita Segantini mountain hut and view the majestic Cimòn della Pala formation. From Passo Rolle, the route descends towards the town of San Martino di Castrozza where visitors can take the cablecar up to Alpe Tognola and head to the Dolomiti UNESCO panoramic balcony to take in the Pale di San Martino group, the Lagorai range and the Vette Feltrine peaks in one vista. On the way back, the route runs through the Valle del Primiero to Primolano in Valsugana and from there on to Trento with a recommended stop at the dairy shop in Mezzano which sells two of the most renowned local products produced by the mountain dairies of Primiero: Tosèla cheese and Botìro di Malga butter.

STOPS:
Predazzo (possible detour to Val di Fassa, Passo Costalunga, Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi) - Bellamonte - Paneveggio - Passo Rolle - San Martino di Castrozza. An alternative route is to return via Fiera di Primiero - Mezzano - Fonzaso (BL) - Primolano - Borgo Valsugana - Pergine Valsugana - Trento.