Why a cycling trip to Italy’s Alta Badia makes for a surprising foodie break – Daily News
#Why, #cycling, #trip, #Italy, #AltaBadia, #makes, #surprising, #foodie, #break Unless you’re keen skier, chances are you might not have heard of Alta Badia. Nestled in the heart of the Dolomite UNESCO World Heritage Site, this popular South Tyrolean resort in northern Italy is best known as being a venue for the FIS Ski World Cup for more than 30 years. But head here in the summer months and you will be stunned by the incredible natural beauty of its breathtaking mountain landscapes and lush valleys, all waiting to be explored by bike or on foot. Criss-crossed by miles of traffic-free trails, the region has earned Alta Badia the reputation of being one of the world’s best destinations for cycling holidays, whether your steed is a road, mountain bike or e-bike. In fact, the region is home to the world’s highest e-bike sharing scheme. Pinarello bikes are available at six docking stations over 6,600ft above sea level and each bike has three power settings designed to kick in when you need a boost. This means even the least confident of cyclists will find riding a bike an uplifting experience. And it’s free to take your bike by cable car or ski lift up to the mountain tops so you can cycle over the mountain ranges and enjoy the glorious views (two hours’ rental from €22/adults, €15 children aged 14-18). Pick up e-bikes from the docking station in La Villa, then head up the Piz La Villa cable car for fabulous views of the La Marmolada – the tallest mountain in the Dolomites with its stunning glacier. Everywhere you find bike shops offering rentals or servicing while lots of the hotels class themselves as ‘bike-friendly’. What’s more, exploring on two wheels couldn’t be any easier, with a variety of events running across the summer including guided tours and special biking circuits with different difficulties designed for both families and more experienced riders. But whatever you choose to do, you’re sure to work up an appetite and that was when I discovered food is hugely important here in the South Tyrol. This year, two new Michelin stars were awarded to restaurants in Alta Badia, meaning the 15 sq mile valley now boasts an impressive total of six. Norbert Niederkofler, chef of the restaurant St Hubertus at – a town in the valleys known for its fine eateries – earned a third star to join just eight other restaurants in Italy with a trio of the prestigious gongs. The summer season is when the tourist board hosts a menu of culinary events both up in the mountains and down in the valley towns. This year also saw the new Sommelier in the Mountain Hut event – a chance for wine lovers to taste the region’s best wines with a sommelier 6,600ft above sea level (€18pp), along with cooking lessons conducted by the area’s best chefs (€15pp). But the highlight has to be the Dining Under the Stars experience – a seven-course gourmet feast in the centre of Badia, at the foot of the church of San Leonardo. Priced at €73pp with wines, coffee and liqueurs, it’s well worth it. Alongside its exc
