Kastelruth, Italy Is One Of Rick Steves' Favorite Hideaways
By Mina Elwell
VACATIONS
The South Tirol region of Italy has beautiful scenery and deep German roots. World traveler Rick Steves’ favorite town in the area is Castelrotto, or Kastelruth to German-speakers.
On his website Rick Steves' Europe, Steves said of Kastelruth : "It has good bus connections, fine, and friendly hotels, and more village character than any town around."
This area has a combination of influences from Italian, German, and Ladin. Kastelruth's most impressive feature is its bell tower, which rings out every hour from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The town’s German influence makes for some tasty specialties. Steves said, "Wurst and sauerkraut are Tirolean clichés — more adventurous eaters seek out Speck."
The surrounding Dolomites are a massive snow-covered mountain range, perfect for outdoor adventure. You can also see wildflowers in the nearby Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi region.