Cycling in Trentino-Alto Adige

The Adige Valley Cycle Path from Innsbruck to Bolzano leads through the Austrian Tyrol and the Italian South Tyrol, taking in some astonishing Alpine scenery along the way. Following the Inn river at first, you'll pass Imst and Landeck before approaching the Austrian-Italian border. Reschenpass at Nauders marks the highest point of this route but is manageable for most cyclists. Besides, it's mostly downhill from here - past the sunken village in the Reschen lake, where the steeple of a church rises from the otherwise undisturbed surface. Continuing on Italian ground along the Adige river, the ancient Roman trade route Via Augusta will take you through the spa town of Merano and the region's capital, Bolzano. If you find yourself at your destination with enough energy to push on, Kalterer lake is a great tip for a refreshing swim in summer.

The Lunga Via delle Dolomiti (the long road of the Dolomites)follows the path of an old train line which links Toblach (Dobbiaco) in South Tyrol with Cortina d'Ampezzo and Calalzo di Cadore in Veneto. There are ten original train tunnels, many bridges and some beautiful old train stations along the 66 km (41 miles) long route. The natural views of the Dolomites are stunning - this may well be Italy's most scenic cycle path. The south part of the route is paved but the north is partly gravel. At the border between South Tyrol and Belluno, you'll reach Passo Gimabanche after a 300 m (984 ft) climb from either side. The rest of the route is pretty flat - some stretches are used for cross-country skiing in winter.

Gentle rides with great views await at the north shore of resort destination Lake Garda. Cycle path Garda Trentino no. 8, for example, is an 18 km (11 miles) long easy bike route connecting Riva del Garda and Torbole. Cyclists of all ages and abilities are sure to enjoy this gentle path along the lake shore and surrounding country. Continuing through the town of Nago, there's a short ascent through the vineyards up to Passo di San Giovanni at an elevation of 210 m (689 ft) before you cycle back downhill to Mori.

Blessed with a mild climate and 300 days of sunshine a year, Merano is a well-known spa town. You can join the Adige Valley Cycle Path to Bolzano or to the north from here. It's also a great base for bike tours in the surrounding mountains. The road bike highlights include three high mountain passes: Passo del Rombo (Timmelsjoch) across the Ötztal Alps, Passo di Monte Giovo (Jaufenpass) and the nearby Passo delle Palade (Gampenpass). Among the many specialties of Alto Adige is the local grape, Schiava, so be sure to sample some wine from the surrounding vineyards.

Various long-distance cycle routes pass through the valleys of Trentino and Alto Adige. There is the Ciclopista del Sole, which is part of the EuroVelo 7, an ambitious route slicing north-south through all of Europe. Its Italian section, not surprisingly, leads to Rome, and beyond. The Romans also built the first road across the Alps, Via Claudia Augusta, which will take you south to Veneto or Verona and the Po. From here, you can continue to the EuroVelo 8, which runs close to the Mediterranean coast to Cyprus.