Do you love the mountains – and good food? Then this is the perfect honeymoon for you. Growing up in Europe in a mountain-hiking family, the Dolomiti were a natural vacation destination, so I’ve seen a lot of them! The most dramatic, rugged mountains, juxtaposed with gently rolling foothills dotted with vineyards and apple orchards and with picturesque little towns and villages where Time has stood still and where the best food you’ve ever tasted is served alongside local wines.

You will likely make the historic city of Merano your base camp for your mountainhiking expeditions – and there is some history to take in! As the capital of a region that over the course of the last millenium has been handed back and forth between Germany, Austria and Italy (South Tyrol or Alto Adige), it has become bilingual (Italian and German) and absorbed the best of both cultures, both north and south of the Alps. It has seen even Hannibal and his army marching through in 218 BC, complete with 40 elephants!

Go visit the “Erzbischoefliche Burg,” the castle originally built for the local archbishop…

… and simply explore the city and the myriad trattorias…

Another “must” is an excursion to Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), a highland area of expansive wildflower meadows, age-old villages and a cute little tram connecting them all – and of course, cable cars take you up to the surrounding mountaintops, unless you are ambitious enough to climb them!

I am sure you are enchanted now… happy travels!