Naturalists …

…but with clothes on!

This morning I shot a video of the orchard/s around the accommodation and that can be seen here

Our plan today was to get away from the city and out into the countryside and we did so by taking a trip in the Funivia del Renon (a funicular) up to the Renon area. The “ride” is at least 15 minutes long and took us to Soprabolzano 1221m above the city.

It was a very step climb initially then flattening out all across either rugged rocky slopes, vineyards or lush paddocks with housing dotted across the slopes.

It was a good value & scenic ride (€10 return per person).

Once at the top we then went walkabouts firstly to Wald-Wild-Wunder-Weg which was touted as “a nature adventure trail…introducing wild animals living in Renon” but which turned out to be not a lot more that a forest walk, though as we climbed up to it (128m above the level of Soprabolzano ) we did see some animals sheltering from the sun under a building

 

We then set Google Maps for Wolfsgruben which took us past some delightful buildings

and also provided some grand views across the countryside with Bolzano down in the valley floor

At Wolfsgruben there is a lake and while it might have been possible to walk around it we choose not to for fear that we might not have the energy to get back to the funicular 

Once we got back to Soprabolzano we had a reviver in the cafe before taking the funicular back down town again enjoying the views that were presented to us.

A rockslide against the back of a house

If you enjoy the outdoors then this, and most other stops we have had, are the places to be.

Fun fact: German speakers make up 66% of the population in the greater Bolzano area, Italians 25% and Ladins 4%, others 5%.

Ladins are people of the Dolomites

Kms driven to date 2527

Kms walked to date 369.7

Spent on Diesel €129.66

Highest price paid to date for diesel €1.579 Würzburg 

Lowest price paid to date for diesel €1.479 Freiburg

Spent on tolls €17.50