Appiano on the Wine Road, in South Tyrol

The largest and perhaps also the most attractive wine-growing community in South Tyrol's South is Appiano on the wine road. In this magnificent holiday area everything revolves around wine, since it does very well in the mild climate and porphyry-retentive soils. The history of wine-growing in Appiano goes back to the first millennium before Christ. Today there are 20 wine-cellars; rich in tradition, in the villages and a unique variety of types of grape decorate the slopes round about.

The hamlets of San Michele, San Paolo, Cornaiano, Frangarto, Riva di Sotto, Missiano, Monticolo, Predonico and Gaido make up the Appiano district. The characteristic feature of these villages are the numerous historic manors. 180 out of more than 800 stately homes and castles in the whole of South Tyrol are to be found in Appiano alone. The most famous Castel d'Appiano, Castel Boymont and Castel Corba are linked by the Three Castles Hike.

Some of the most interesting monuments are of course churches such as St. Justina, Maria Rast or the Gleifkirche. However, the most attractive place of worship in the whole Oltradige is located in the hamlet of San Paolo. This parish church, which is also affectionately called the cathedral in the country, is the expression of the wealth and power of the noble families who used to live here and stands as an emblem of the village.

The beautiful area around Appiano is also very inviting for wonderful excursions. The ice holes, from which cold air streams even in summer, or the Monticolo Lakes, bathing lakes in a protected holiday area are popular destinations. If this is not enough variety for you, you can enjoy traditional events such as the Appiano Oktoberfest, the Wine Culture Weeks in San Paolo, the Cornaiano Wine Festival or the international Appiano Castle Ride.