Four days with @momentsofgregory

The first stop is in Val di Sole, in Pellizzano, where Gregory and Julia spent the morning horseback riding on the fresh snow, crossing silent woods to connect with the beauty of the mountains in winter. Just enough time to have lunch in the valley and then you climb to almost 3,000 metres above sea level, headed to Capanna Presena, on the glacier bearing the same name, in the Presanella Group.

This Ski Area is part of the larger PontediLegno-Tonale Ski Area, which, in turn, is part of Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta. Three downhill slopes, one of which is the historic Paradiso black slope, served by two ski lifts (Paradiso Cable Car and Presena Cable Car). From up there you can admire the Adamello peaks from a privileged perspective and, at night, also the vault of heaven. If you want, you can also sleep in an Igloo. An experience that will warm your heart!

If you decide to sleep on the glacier in view, you can’t miss the opportunity to be enveloped by the intense colours of dawn which, from up there, are even purer and brighter. With your skis on (or by the lift) you are soon back in the valley. It is time to take a guided hike in the Stelvio National Park. One of the unmissable attractions of this area is certainly the bridge suspended in the void above the Rio Ragaiolo waterfalls. The bridge can be easily crossed in all seasons, on foot or with snowshoes, covering more than 100 metres at a height of approximately 60 metres.

Once this adventurous excursion is over, simply make a short trip to get to Ossana, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, at the entrance to Val di Peio. During the Christmas period, this town becomes the home of one of the most important Trentino exhibitions of hand-made nativity scenes, ‘The village of 1000 nativity scenes’, along a route that starts from a comet set up in the centre of Ossana and winds along a red thread along the streets and alleys of the town, up to the walls of Castel San Michele.

An idea for the evening? Walk around Ossana to stargaze! Indeed, Ossana’s has been proclaimed the “most beautiful sky in Italy”, thanks to its careful environmental policy.

The third leg of the itinerary proposes heading to the Campiglio Dolomiti area, more precisely in the Nambino plain, not far from the town of Madonna di Campiglio. Here, accompanied by an expert guide, you can try the ‘Dolomiti Natural Wellness - Winter Edition’, simple excursions in the winter woods to savour the silence of winter, the artistic forms of nature, the beauty of cold and the life that hides among the trees. Don’t forget to admire the view around you! Lake Nambino is a jewel set among the trees, with the Brenta Dolomites in the background and the namesake hut overlooking its waters. You will see that it seems as though you are entering a world populated by characters from fairy tales and legends. At the end of the excursion, a moment of pleasant relaxation awaits you, with a hot herbal tea prepared with Alpine herbs and scents.

For a romantic dinner you could go to Malga Ritorto mountain hut, a magnificent natural balcony overlooking the Brenta Dolomites from which to admire (and why not, also photograph) thousand sunset colours.

The fourth and final stage takes you to the Trentino shore of the largest and most important lake in Italy, Lake Garda. Here vegetation and temperatures bring to mind the Mediterranean, and it is no coincidence that Garda Trentino is the northernmost point in the world to produce olive oil.  This itinerary is ideal for a winter excursion without fearing the cold, surrounded by olive and lemon trees, and with a splendid view of the lake. With a very short trip, in the afternoon you can visit Canale di Tenno, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, where the unmissable Christmas markets are set up every year. Works of art, jewellery and ceramic objects handmade by local artisans and artists colour the alleys of this medieval village, while the scent of cloves, Christmas biscuits and mulled wine hovers gently in the air.

If you still have some time, before returning home, we suggest a visit to the nearby Christmas markets of Riva del Garda and Arco, to fill up on Christmas air and scents.