Food festivals and events in Alto Adige 2026
“Alto Adige is a bridge between Italy and Central Europe, where IGP Speck and apple strudel are savored among traditional farmhouses and castles.”
Speck and strudel
Upcoming Events
Merano Flower Festival
Speck Alto Adige
Lightly smoked and cured ham seasoned with alpine herbs, a symbol of South Tyrol.
Ötzi, the 5,300-year-old mummy from the Similaun glacier, is preserved at the Bolzano Archaeological Museum.
Alto Adige produces 10% of Europe's apples and is the continent's largest apple-growing region.
Discovering the territory
Products, traditions and culture that make this land unique
Prodotti del Territorio
Alto Adige Südtirol
High-altitude white wines: Gewürztraminer, Pinot Bianco, Lagrein.
Graukäse
A lean grey cheese from the Vizze Valley, a Tyrolean farming tradition.
Piatti della Tradizione
Tradizioni e Cultura
Patrimoni UNESCO
Dolomiti
The Dolomitic mountain ranges of Alto Adige, among the most spectacular mountain landscapes in the world.
Patrimonio NaturaleTradizioni Popolari
Mercatini di Natale di Bolzano
Italy's oldest Christmas market, held in Piazza Walther since 1991.
Törggeling
An autumn tradition of walking through vineyards and stopping at mountain farmhouses for chestnuts and new wine.
Krampus
A parade of Krampus demons on the night of December 5th, a pre-Christian Alpine tradition.
Parchi e Aree Naturali
Parco Naturale Puez-Odle
An iconic Dolomitic landscape featuring the Odle massif, a symbol of Alto Adige.
Parco Naturale Tre Cime
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, among the most photographed mountains in the world.
Parco Naturale dello Sciliar-Catinaccio
The distinctive silhouette of Sciliar and the red Catinaccio peaks at sunset.
Personaggi Illustri
Ötzi
Man of the SimilaunA 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Similaun glacier in 1991, now preserved in Bolzano.
Reinhold Messner
MountaineerThe greatest alpinist in history, born in Bressanone, and the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders.
Lo Sapevi Che…
“Reinhold Messner, born in Bressanone, was the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen.”
“Bolzano's Christmas market is Italy's oldest (since 1991) and attracts over 1 million visitors annually.”
Domande Frequenti
1Which PDO and PGI products can be found in Alto Adige?expand_more
Alto Adige is home to 4 protected designation products, including: Speck Alto Adige (PGI), Mela Alto Adige (PGI), Alto Adige Südtirol (DOC), and Graukäse (Slow Food Presidium).
2What should I eat in Alto Adige?expand_more
Typical Alto Adige dishes include: Schlutzkrapfen (mezzelune), Kaiserschmarrn, Gröstl, and Zelten. Each dish tells the story of the region's gastronomic heritage.
3What UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Alto Adige?expand_more
Alto Adige is home to 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Dolomites (Natural, 2009).
4What are the most famous festivals in Alto Adige?expand_more
Major festivals and events in Alto Adige include: Mercatini di Natale di Bolzano (Bolzano, November-January); Merano WineFestival (Merano, November); Speckfest (Val di Funes, October); and Merano Grape Festival (Merano, October).
5What natural parks are in Alto Adige?expand_more
Protected natural areas in Alto Adige include: Parco Naturale Puez-Odle (Nature Park), Parco Naturale Tre Cime (Nature Park), and Parco Naturale dello Sciliar-Catinaccio (Nature Park).
6Who organizes festivals in Alto Adige?expand_more
Festivals in Alto Adige are organized by local communities such as the Consorzio Speck Alto Adige and Pro Loco Merano. These local organizations are the guardians of the region's gastronomic traditions.