Italian Alps (Summer)

The Italian Alps region offers a wealth of activities in the summer. Hikers, bikers, and campers can take advantage of trails through spectacular scenery, and find secluded beauty within the appropriately named Gran Paradisio National Park. In the mountains, visitors should be sure to take a cable car ride up Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) for the views, and hike and bike around the slopes and ski resorts of Courmayeur. Rafting and rock climbing trips in the Dolomites are an option for the adventurous, while area golf resorts offer slower paced activity. Horseback riding through Alpine meadows can be either a relaxing day trip, or a full-blown ...

The Italian Alps region offers a wealth of activities in the summer. Hikers, bikers, and campers can take advantage of trails through spectacular scenery, and find secluded beauty within the appropriately named Gran Paradisio National Park. In the mountains, visitors should be sure to take a cable car ride up Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) for the views, and hike and bike around the slopes and ski resorts of Courmayeur. Rafting and rock climbing trips in the Dolomites are an option for the adventurous, while area golf resorts offer slower paced activity. Horseback riding through Alpine meadows can be either a relaxing day trip, or a full-blown camping adventure. The gateway to the Alps, the city of Turin is more of a modern industrial center. Despite many improvements for the Olympics, it still pales in comparison to other Italian cities as a destination for art and architecture. Turin does have a surprisingly good Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio) that is worth visiting, and a fine cafe culture with many dining options serving characteristic Northern Italian cuisine.

About the Expert

Bill Fink is coauthor of Pauline Frommer's Italy, contributing the introduction, sections on Tuscany and Umbria, and chapters on Italian food, arts, and history.