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The vintage car snakes up the mountain roads before finally arriving at the magnificient medieval castle, balanced on the top of the hill. The bride stops to admire the 360 degree view of the surrounding snow topped mountains. She heads towards the grand wooden doors of the castle which open dramatically to welcome her into the safe, warm environment of the castle where her husband to be is anxiously waiting. The nerves are settled as they see each other for the first time in all their wedding finery, an exchange of smiles lites up the room with love. The guests break into spontaneous applause as the vows are exchanged and the couple share their first kiss as husband and wife.  

After the ceremony, the champagne starts to flow and the small siderooms off the grand hall, offer gastronomic treats to tempt the guests into each room and to marvel at the splendour of the castle structure. As the sit-down meal in the candle lit grand hall commences the wedding party is served a true banquet fit for royalty accompanied by the finest wines. At the end of the meal the guests raise their glasses to toast the happy couple and shout 'Bacio! Bacio!' asking them to kiss again. The music draws the guests to the dance floor where they remain until there feet are tired.  After as the couple leave, the path leading from the castle to the car is lit by Roman torches, creating a orange and red glow in the dark night sky. The winding road takes them back down the mountain and guides them to their accommodation. As the castle disappears behind the moonlit ridges the couple arrive at their luxurious hotel. Back in their room the married couple are greeted by a bottle of champagne on ice, they pour some into the two glasses and walk out onto their terrace to admire the stars filling the night sky and drawing to an end this perfect day.

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Combined cultures for that perfect wedding

The geography, architecture and culture in the regions of Südtirol or Alto Adige are very different from other regions within Italy. You may feel that you are in Switzerland or Austria as you pass through the winding valleys and towns in this area, and you would not be wrong as this area has had a turbulent past being fought over by the Romans, Germans, French, and Hungarians and Austrians. To reflect the varied culture in this area there are in fact two official languages, German and Italian with both languages being taught in the local schools.

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Activities before and after the wedding day

For those people who love the outdoor life this area is a perfect destination all year round. In winter, skiing, tobogganing and Nordic skiing are some of the activities you can try out in one of the many resorts sprinkled throughout the region. The very brave may try climbing the rocky mountains assisted by ice picks to reach the summit and enjoy the unspoilt views. As the snow starts to retreat on the mountains the now green peaks become covered in wild flowers. With the arrival of warmer weather comes the arrival of hikers and cyclists who along with other tourists looking to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings.  In summer the paths that were once ravaged by ice and snow open to welcome nature lovers and keen walkers, ranging from leisurely trails for beginners, to complicated hikes for the experienced. As you look out across the mountain ranges some of the higher mountains are still wearing their white winter caps, with the stubborn snow unwilling to surrender to the summer sun.

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Food in Alto Adige/Südtirol

The food in this area reflects the various nationalities who have inhabited this area throughout the years.  In particular the cuisines of the Italian, German and French. 

In autumn the Törggelen is celebrated to mark the end of the harvesting of grapes. Local specialities including chestnuts, sausages, bacon, barley soup, cranberries and poppy seeds are all served with the local wine to mark the end harvest. The paths which lead from one farm to the next take you through the evergreen pines. The farmers leave their doors open to the visitor, welcoming them to savour the autumn flavours which are available.

The gigantic green mountains dominate the landscape and tower over the villages and cars that weave through the valleys. Villages, castles and forts balance precariously on the ridges and cliffs. Fresh water streams cascade down the mountain and meet with the flowing river on the bottom of the valley. During humid and wet periods vapour appears to wrap around the trees in the forests enveloping them in white mist.

From within the strong castle walls, perched on the side of the mountain, looking out onto the world below, you begin to think of times gone by and the battles that may have been fought here. From the castle tower it is possible to imagine the power and strength felt by an armoured soldier looking out on the approaching enemy. Many castles and hotels pay tribute to the medieval history of this area and have weapons such as spears and swords along with other relics scattered around the buildings.

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Catching-up with the ancestors

South Tyrol is also home to a man who receives thousands of visitors a year, his name is Ötzi. Approximately 5300 years old, this Iceman died and was preserved in a glacier. Not only did the glacier mummify his body over the many centuries but his clothes have also been preserved, a fashionable stone-age fur coat and a bearskin cap, which were all the rage at the time! Ötzi has been a great help to historians in understanding life at this time, his weapons, the wear of his teeth, the marks on his hands, his stomach contents etc all help paint the picture of his life. He is still kept in a chilly refrigerator to maintain his temperature at -6° Celsius to ensure that he is perserved for another 5000 years. 

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If you are unsure about which wedding location to choose for your dream destination wedding then why not try our quiz on the homepage.

If you would like to see more about weddings in Alto Adige please have a look at the Featured Venues page for more information.

Are you thinking of a luxury wedding? Then please find more details on our Luxurious weddings page.