Caldaro sulla strada del vino/Kaltern an der Weinstrasse

The etymology of the name Caldaro, which origin is Raethic or Roman, certainly refers to the concave morphology of the territory in which the homonymous lake lies too. This lake, which is the warmest in the whole Alpine arch, has created a mild climate in the surrounding area.
Besides the beauty of the territory the village, which lies few kilometres far from Bolzano, is characterized by the peculiar Oltradige style, a style which joined and revised the gothic art of northern Europe and the Renaissance style of the South. The flourishing of this style, between 1550 and 1600, i.e. when the centre of Caldaro had been restored, let a very peculiar aspect to this village, which can still be admired walking about among marble windows and doors, sandstone arches, open galleries, verandas and inner courtyards.

The characteristic centre of attraction is the funicular which, since 19 October 1903, drives directly to the Mendola Pass in 12 minutes. From the Mendola Pass many paths wind, such as the one that in an hour and a half leads to Penegal (1738 m) from where you can enjoy a wonderful sight all over the Oltradige and Lower Adige area, or the paths that leads towards the Toval, the peak of the archduke Eugene, the Macaion or the Roen.
The town, which is one of the most famous wine-producing towns in Alto Adige, houses also the Provincial Museum of Wine where you can find all the tools and objects used in the cultivation and production of wine. The museum is open from Easter till the end of October.
Caldaro is also a paradise for all the sportsmen. The closeness to the lake allows practising water sports such us windsurfing and sailing or swimming and fishing. The paths among the orchards and the mountain itineraries are excellent both for excursionists and bicycle lovers. But the sportsmen paradise does not end here. In Caldaro, in fact, people can practise tennis, athletics, horse riding, archery, golf… to say nothing about winter sports, which can be practised in the surrounding areas.
Moreover the southern shore of the Lake of Caldaro/Kalterer See is a natural biotopo, covered with a cane thicket which houses several aquatic animals.