Southern Europe Archives - ETB Travel Photography

Two Nights in San Cassiano

San Cassiano or St. Kassian depending on if you speak Italian or German is a small, upscale mountain village located in the Alta Badia valley of the Italian Dolomites. Situated at 5,000 feet in South Tyrol, Italy, this quiet alpine town is known for world class skiing, fine dining, and stunning scenery.

At first glance, San Cassiano, only about a ½ mile long with one main street and a few feeders, seems tiny with almost nothing to do. But if you like the outdoors and take some time to explore the surrounding hills, you’ll find some interesting places and many things to do in San Cassiano.

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Hiking Alta Via 1: Pederu to San Cassiano

Continuing on our hiking journey through the Dolomites in comfort, we took the bus from San Vigilio to Rifugio Pederu which serves as a strategic hub for hikers embarking on the renowned Alta Via 1 trail. Located in Italy’s Fanes-Sennes-Brais Natural Park, the mountain guesthouse was once a military camp and officer barracks for the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Army during World War I. Here we began our 12-mile hike to San Cassiano or St. Kassian.

HAPPY HIKING!

Two Nights in San Vigilio di Marebbe

San Viglio di Marebbe is a small Italian Village in the Dolomites with a population of 1,200 hundred or so. Though its population routinely triples in the summer in winter as tourists enjoy the outdoor paradise. Tucked away in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is best known for preserving its Ladin language, mountain culture, and legendary alpine folklore. Today, it merges its traditional farming traditions with world-class winter sports, making it a premier skiing destination in the Dolomites.

We arrived in San Vigilio on foot after a 10-mile hike from Lago di Braies in July. For my first hike in the mountains for a few years, my legs were feeling it. As a result, sightseeing in St. Viglio did not immediately top the list when we stumbled into town around five pm. Instead, in need of getting off my feet, we checked into our hotel, located right across from the church in the middle of town.

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Alta Via 1 Highlights – Lago di Braies to St. Vigil – Day 1

Alta Via 1 Trek in the Dolomites

The Alta Via 1 is a 75-mile long-distance hiking trail in the Italian Dolomites. The iconic hut to hut trek takes approximately 8-10 days to complete and begins in Lago di Braies and ends near Belluno.

To hike it during peak season of July and August, you need to book rifugios (the mountain huts) 6-9 months in advance or join a guided tour that already has reservations. The huts vary in comfort from basic to luxurious.

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Things to Do in Cortina

History of Cortina

Once the Pearl of the Dolomites, and now the Queen of the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo has a rich history. Originally called Ampezzo, it was governed by several empires over the last 500 years including the Republic of Venice, the Austrian Empire, the French Empire (Napolean), the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and presently the Kingdom of Italy. Its name was changed to Cortina d’Ampezzo after World War I when it was annexed into Italy.

The once sleepy agriculture community turned into an elite tourist destination in the late 1800’s following an Austrian mountaineers famous climbs of 1864. By 1956, after Cortina hosted the first ever internationally televised Winter Olympics, the Pearl of the Dolomites was thrust into the spotlight.

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Hiking in Salvaterra do Extremo

After a few days in the Oeste Region of Portugal touring Óbidos and Nazaré and 36 hours in Lisbon, we finally began our Historic Village Hiking Tour in Portugal with Mountain Travel Sobek. We began our six-day hiking tour early on a September morning when Ricardo picked up our group of eight and two guides from our hotel in Lisbon. We drove northeast for approximately three hours until we reached Salvaterra do Extremo.

History of Salvaterra do Extremo

Salvaterra do Extremo is located on the border of Spain and Portugal in Portugal’s central region. The origins of the historic village date all the way back to the Romans and then later to the Moors. It became part of the Portuguese Kingdom in the 12th Century.

Its first fortification was likely built when it received a charter from King Sancho II in 1229. Though after the signing of the Treaty of Alcañices establishing Portuguese-Castilian border in 1297, Salvaterra do Extremo was refortified.

Being located on the border, Salvaterra do Extremo assumed strategic importance. During the Restoration War in the 17th century, the medieval castle and surrounding town were enclosed with new walls and guarded by the citadel. While the walls were mostly demolished after the Peninsular Wars, some remnants remain.

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Lisbon in 36 Hours

History of Lisbon

Lisbon, also known as the City of Seven Hills, is the capital city of Portugal. Located at the mouth of the Tagus River, it is also mainland Europe’s westernmost capital. It’s strategic location for seafaring and being a gateway to Europe for South America and Africa has led to its cultured history.

It has been influenced by the Iberians, Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Christians. Between the various rulers and the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 that virtually razed the city, Lisbon features layers of heritage and architecture.

Each of its neighborhoods, some atop hills and others at sea level have their own vibes. During our visit to Lisbon, we spent most of our time in the Baixa, Alfama, and Belém neighborhoods. We also took several walks along the Avenida da Liberdade, due to our hotel location (more on this later).

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Things to Do in Nazaré

Nazaré is a popular seaside town on the Silver Coast in the Oeste region of Portugal. It is most famous for its giant waves which attract world renowned surfers during November, though the historic fishing village offers many other interesting things to do.

The Nazaré Canyon

One may wonder how the quiet surf of the summer turns into monstrous 100-foot waves in the winter. It is due to the Nazaré Canyon. The Nazaré Canyon, some 16,000 feet deep and Europe’s largest underwater canyon, is located just a few hundred feet offshore.

Several elements combine to contribute to the big waves in Nazaré. The canyon’s depth causes waves to move toward shore with more speed than the waves on the shallow continental shelf. Some of the fast-moving waves surge out of the deep canyon and combine with waves on the shallow continental shelf. The result is a section of the wave which is effectively two waves stacked on top of each other.

The huge amount of water brought to shore is sometimes sucked back into the combined wave increasing its size even more. Adding Atlantic storms and wind patterns to the mix, Nazaré ends up with some of the largest waves in the world.

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A Day in Óbidos

History of Óbidos

Óbidos, located about an hour north of Lisbon off the Silver Coast, is one of the most well preserved and picturesque medieval villages in Portugal. Its castle walls encompass a labyrinth of narrow roads which wend between whitewashed homes with red tiled roofs.

Over the years, Óbidos was famous among royals. In the 13^th century, King Dom Dinis gifted the village to his wife, Queen Isabel. The tradition continued for centuries. Additionally, King Alfonso V and his cousin Princess Isabella of Coimbra married here at the ages of 9 and 10. Consequently, Óbidos earned the nickname Village of Queens.

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