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Situated in Northern Italy on the border with Austria, the region of Trentino Alto Adige has become a haven for those looking to escape the daily grind.
Trentino-Alto Adige brings the best of Germanic and Italian ways of life together to create a unique culture in its food, wine and traditions.
With many Italians looking to Trentino Alto Adige for their yearly dose of clean air and open space, the area is often devoid of foreign tourists and provides an almost hidden gem for those looking to forego the bigger cities of Venice or Milan.
Being one of the most northerly wine regions in Italy, Trentino Alto Adige has developed a wine culture just as unique as its history. Long ruled over by the Austrians, many of the regions grape varieties share commonalities with their Germanic cousins. One of the varietals to have made its way to the region is the Gewürztraminer.
Used primarily for white wines, Trentino Alto Adige’s cooler climate provides the perfect growing environment. Considered one of Northern Italy’s epicenters for Pinot Grigio, Trentino Alto Adige has seen the grape variety garner increased global popularity.
Sharing a strong history of rural cuisine that combines the areas Germanic roots, Trentino Alto Adige has developed a gastronomical style that borrows heavily from its cultural past. Polenta, a dish comprising of boiled cornmeal and usually served hot, can trace its roots the region’s agricultural ancestry, where peasant communities would use the dish for sustenance. Often served with mushrooms or goulash, a more Germanic addition, the meal has become synonymous with northern Italian cooking.
Apfelküchel, a traditional regional desert comprised of sliced apples dipped in batter, has become a staple of Italo-Germanic cuisine within the region. Originally from South Germany, the dish has managed to establish itself among Trentino Alto Adige culinary additions.
Flagship Food Appellations
Home to 7 national parks, the region is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. With extensive ski resorts doting the area, the region also plays host to some of the most prolific skiing in Italy. With the immense popularity of the Sella Ronda, a world-famous ski circuit around the similarly named massif, the area has become a mecca for skiers looking for an alternative to France or Switzerland.
The region’s capital, Trento, with its mixture of Medieval and Renaissance architecture, provides the perfect mix of Italo-Austrian culture. Regarded as one of Italy’s wealthiest city’s, Trento has become a leading center for research and education, showcasing Italian know how within a perfectly packaged alpine setting.
The Muse Museum, designed by Renzo Piano, showcases the region’s culture and history and acts as a great way for visitors to the area to get a better understanding of the intricacies that shaped Trentino Alto Adige.
Bolzano, once a historic gateway between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian empire, acts as a mixing pot of Austrian and Italian culture. Sharing Trento’s high quality of living, the city, surrounded by alpine meadows is a great stop off for those visiting the Alto Adige.
The Castel Roncolo, a 13th century castle overlooking Bolzano, contains some of the oldest frescoes in the region, with many depicting the everyday life of the regions past. Being both historic and scenic, the castle makes a great day trip for visitors to the area. Those wishing to further explore the region will find the city’s proximity to most outdoor activities a godsend.
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Many events and traditional festivals in Trentino are often linked to the rhythms of nature.
The Carnival of Serrada is the only “futurist style” Carnival, dedicated to the artist Fortunato Depero (born in Trentino).
The Magnarustega is a curious gourmet walk in the valley of the Rio Cavallo (in August in Folgaria, in the province of Trento).
In September, the Feast of the Woodman in Molina di Fiemme is a competition among lumberjacks.
Desmalgada de Stramaiol, late September in Bedollo (Trento) celebrates the coming back of cows from the mountain pastures.
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When was the last time you had dinner in an Italian restaurant in Canada and you thought you were dining in Italy? That’s exactly how “Ospitalità Italiana Certified”restaurants want you to feel when you visit their fine dining establishments.
Ospitalità Italiana is an official certification from Unioncamere, Italy’s federation of local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that tells you that the food you are enjoying is unquestionably Italian: products are authentic, ingredients genuine and recipes true to the thousand year history of Italian cuisine.
Canada is home to some leading Italian Chefs. Passionate and innovative, many have refined their skills and advanced their knowledge directly in Italy. In addition, Montréal boasts a fabulous cooking school ITHQ where young aspiring chefs learn Italian technic and Italian traditional recipes from the masters.
So the next time you make reservations for an Italian dinner in a Montreal restaurant, ask if they’ve received the Ospitalità Italiana seal of approval. You will enjoy the true Italian taste.
