The “Nos Ladins – We Ladins” initiative is back, offering a number of activities to enjoy together with local people from the area. The purpose of this initiative is to teach the many tourists visiting the valley about local traditions, allowing them to enjoy unforgettable experiences.
Alta Badia, in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an authentic place, bursting with culture and traditions that date back thousands of years and characterise the Ladin people who live here.
Alta Badia (South Tyrolean Dolomites/Italy) – Nos Ladins – We Ladins offers visitors to Alta Badia the chance to become a real local for a few hours. Local people play the leading role in this initiative, all of whom share a genuine, innate passion for this area, where they were all born and raised. Who could be better to make sure you enjoy these activities to the full than those who actually live here? Spending time with young, local farmers, gourmet chefs, a traditional cook, cyclist, tailor or a mountain guide is an experience that everyone can cherish.
This year’s event will see the return of many of the characters from last year – back by popular demand. There will also be two new activities to make the initiative even more irresistible.
DISCOVERING A TRADITIONAL FARM AND FARMING FAMILY
Alta Badia was once governed by the local farmers’ work: hard and demanding work, but a source of great satisfaction. Over the years, the way the land is worked has undergone many changes, but something that has remained constant is the love of Barbara and her family for their farmstead. Barbara and Gregor, together with their five children, will be offering guests a warm welcome, ready to proudly explain their daily routine on the farm, whether that be looking after the animals in the stables, making hay or tending to the vegetable garden, Barbara’s great passion. This is where Barbara also grows the herbs she uses in her cooking; guests staying at their holiday farm can pick these herbs and use them in their own dishes. Herbs are also a key ingredient for Barbara to make her bread, which guests will have the chance to prepare alongside her for their “pan da domisdé”, or afternoon snack, which they will enjoy with breathtaking views over the Dolomites. Event scheduled for: 9 July, 20 August and 1 September.
VISIT TO THE DEER PARK
Over 30 specimens of deer live inside the deer park located between La Villa and Badia, which covers an amazing seven hectares. For a number of years now, Lukas Castlunger, a young local farmer, has been breeding deer together with his father, with whom he shares this great passion. Lukas will be taking guests on a journey to discover the fascinating world of these elegant and majestic creatures. Afterwards, Lukas will also be on hand to help guests prepare an aperitif, using only the best local ingredients. Visitors can then enjoy their aperitif inside the cellar of the family’s house, one of Alta Badia’s most ancient farmsteads that’s bursting with history. Event scheduled for: 15 July, 5 and 26 August at 5pm.
SUNRISE ON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN
Getting up in the middle of the night to reach the top of the Dolomites and watch the sun rise is one of the activities that is part of a real local’s life. Manuel Agreiter, a local mountain guide and manager of a refuge in Vallon (2550m), will take visitors on a 90-minute walk to the Piz da Lech track. From there you can admire the beauty of the sun rising behind the mountains Santa Croce, Lavarela and Conturines. Manuel knows the name of every peak and listening to his stories of men and mountains will be really captivating. The meeting point for the trip is in Corvara, from where Manuel takes visitors by car to the start of the walk to the Piz da Lech track. Then visitors walk back to Vallon, where breakfast is provided, before descending on foot or in cable car to the centre of Corvara. The excursion is easy-average difficulty level. The dates are as follows: 21 July, 11 August and 15 September.
KNOWING AND PICKING MOUNTAIN HERBS
The woods are a source of energy and a place to be discovered. Dive into them with Andrea Irsara, a gourmet chef from Alta Badia who will make the experience truly unique. Andrea, who has based his job on his passion for cooking, will take participants on a path through the woods and mountain pastures. It will be him who teaches visitors to recognise the mountain herbs and to pick them respecting nature and then use them in the kitchen. Visitors will then make simple but authentic dishes and drinks with him. The event is suitable for anyone with a strong passion for nature, the products it offers and healthy but tasty cuisine. The dates are as follows: 30 July and 3 September at 1.30 pm.
IN THE SEWING ATELIER
The Ladin people never stop and are full of inventiveness and creativity. One of these people is called Anita Vittur, a mother and ski instructor who has transformed her home into a sewing workshop where she designs and makes clothes and accessories that are modern, but at the same time connected with the local tradition, with passion for detail and everything handmade. If you take part in one of the days organised with her you will find out more about Ladin style and at the same discover Anita’s secrets. It all takes place at the foot of her beloved Dolomites, inside her workshop a stone’s throw from the centre of San Cassiano. The dates are as follows: 6 and 28 July and 25 August at 3 pm.
THE SECRETS OF LADIN COOKING
Cuisine is an integral part of the culture and traditions of a place. Ladin dishes are simple but genuine, made based on the recipes passed down from mother to daughter, from generation to generation, over the years. So if you aspire to be like a Ladin, or at least nearly like one, you absolutely have to spend an afternoon with Anna Maria Comploi in the kitchen of the family farm. The cook, who specialises in Ladin dishes, will reveal the secrets of local cuisine to visitors: canederli (dumplings), turtres (pastries) filled with spinach and ricotta or cabbage, furtaies (spiral shaped sweet pastries) and other Ladin specialities will be made following the traditional recipes and enjoyed together in a typical and welcoming environment. The dates are as follows: 14 July, 4 August and 8 September at 3 pm.
TRANSHUMANCE, A CENTURY-OLD RITE
Transhumance is the migration of animals who at the end of the summer are taken to their stables in the village, after spending the hotter months grazing in the Alpine pastures. Anyone who takes part in this activity will have the opportunity to accompany Matteo Piccolruaz, a young local farmer, along the last kilometres of the journey back down to the village with his livestock. A unique and rich experience which takes you back in time. Matteo is part of the group of young farmers and is an authentic protector of the values connected with the farming tradition that he works to preserve and continue with coherency and conviction. The experience starts at the meeting point in Saré, at the Capanna Alpina refuge, then it continues along the stream to San Cassiano, reaching La Villa and finally Badia. The event will take place on Sunday 19 September at 12.30.
LADIN BIKE RIDE ON THE ROADS THAT INSPIRED THE MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES
In 1985 one of the most famous and popular granfondo cycling events in the world began in Alta Badia itself: the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel. Igor Tavella, a great bike enthusiast, will be the one who reveals the history and anecdotes about the event to participants. Igor’s father Eduard is one of the founders of the amateur granfondo event. Igor will take cyclists on a ride like a real “insider”, discovering the less known roads and tracks of lovers of this sport. The ride starts at Igor’s house, with a break for a snack or a particular pit-stop, in true local style. The event will take place on 25 June, 27 August and 10 September.
To book, you need to contact the Alta Badia tourist information offices. All the initiatives will be planned and run considering the Covid-19 legislation so as to guarantee the maximum safety of the participants. A maximum of four people can take place on each date.
For further information: Alta Badia Tourist Information Offices – www.altabadia.org – Tel.: +39 0471/836176-847037 – Email: info@altabadia.org