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If you are hankering for a tour of Europe, you should really consider the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Italy on the border of both Switzerland and Austria. Its tourist attractions include the Dolomite Mountains, that the famous architect Le Corbusier called "The most beautiful work of architecture even seen," glacier lakes, and Alpine forests. This lovely region is composed of two parts, Trentino in the south and Alto Adige in the north. This article presents Alto Adige; a companion article presents Trentino.

Alto Adige residents must declare their first language: choices include Italian (26.5%), German (69%), and Ladin (4%). There is a German-speaking majority in fully 103 of 116 communes. Tourists can enjoy the two cultures.

Caldaro (Kaltern), whose population is only some 7500, annually attracts over 400,000 tourists. Its architecture combines Italian Renaissance and German Gothic elements as exemplified in the historic Church of Santa Caterina located in the town center. The Caldero Lake claims to be the warmest in the Alps. Many swim in it from May to September. Visit the Provincial Wine Museum located in a princely manor.

The horticultural center of Naturno (Naturns), population about five thousand, boasts the Seventh Century Church of San Procolo with frescoes among the oldest in the German-speaking world. Then drive west to Reinhold Messner's Thirteenth Century Castel Juval. Messner was the first person to climb Mount Everest solo and the first to climb it without additional oxygen.

The capital Bolzano (Bozen), population about 100,000 people, has an Italian speaking majority but is home to many German speakers. The South Tyrol Archeological Museum's star attraction is Oetzi, the more than five thousand year old iceman discovered in Italy near the Austrian border in 1991. The Gothic Duomo (Cathedral) was built in the period from the Twelfth to Fourteenth Centuries. The city has many old churches, two main squares, and a beautiful promenade skirting vineyards on the edge of the city, and along the river in the middle of town.

Cortina d'Ampezzo is a rather posh winter resort. Cortina was supposed to host the 1944 Winter Olympics but because of World War II had to wait until 1956. Known as "The Pearl of the Dolomites," it sits in a meadow about 4000 feet (1.2 kilometers) above sea level, surrounded by mountains. Cortina was the site of many popular films including The Pink Panther and For Your Eyes Only.

Alto Adige cuisine tends to be Austro-Tyrolean. Popular foods include wursts, cabbage dishes, dumplings, and potatoes. Pork is big, especially Speck, Austrian smoked ham. The San Leonardo, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is said to be quite good but it does not come cheap.

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Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would really rather just drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com.

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