Saturday December 1st, 2018
We decide to go and see the Christmas markets in South Tyrol, but we anticipate by a week to the holidays of December 8th to find a little less people (we will find a lot anyway). So we go by car to Chiusa. We had been there many years ago. When we arrive in the morning, the sun has not yet arrived in the central streets. Being still early we have no problem finding parking. We walk along the main street and see, from distance, the convent of Sabbiona (we don’t go there).
Then we climb the hill where the Burg Branzoll stands (I have the model of this castle at home). We continue by car to Bressanone, and visit the center. In the past we had already been here, but more recently than in Chiusa. We visit some churches and walk through the pedestrian streets, looking at the market stalls. After lunch we go to Lake Braies.
Being the time of Christmas markets, the lake is very crowded, there are people everywhere (also due to the popularity of a TV series set here). We walk along the lake without going all the way around. It’s frozen. We would like to stop for a chocolate, but the bar near the lake is very full, there are people in queue waiting to enter. So we decide to continue and stop at another bar along the road. We then return to our hotel in Dobbiaco and then go out for dinner, choosing a restaurant not far from the hotel.
Sunday December 2nd, 2018
Today we go to Austria. We pass by San Candido (now we do not stop, we will visit it later), we only make a stop at the Military Memorial. Then we continue to Sillian (where there is an old wooden bridge) and reach Lienz. We were last summer in Lienz. After visiting the city, we go back and stop in Heinfels to visit the Loacker factory (and we also make many purchases).
Once in Dobbiaco, we go to the lake and walk along the shore, in some places it is frozen.
We go to San Silvestro, not far away there should be a restaurant that some friends recommended. Unfortunately it is closed, it will open next week for the beginning of the winter season. A little disappointed we return to Dobbiaco where we have lunch. In the afternoon we visit San Candido. When we arrive there is a lot of people, there are tour buses that arrive here for the markets and return home in the evening. In the late afternoon the town is empty and finally it is possible to walk comfortably through the center. In the evening we return to Dobbiaco where we have dinner.
Monday December 3rd, 2018
After breakfast we go to Val Fiscalina. There is snow, we walk flat along the path till the valley bottom. We spend the whole morning pleasantly in the valley. Turning back we stop at Moso for lunch. In the afternoon we go to Val Casies up to Santa Maddalena, then we stop for a while in Brunico, before returning home.
You can read about another trip to South Tyrol here.
