The scent of apple trees. Daydreaming: In Lana.

The idea is simply to get out, away from everyday life, preferably surrounded by nature. Often, you don’t even need an airplane for this – just a few hours by car. Our journey takes us to the Adige Valley, to the alpine-Mediterranean Lana near Merano.

A s soon as we arrive, we are greeted by a familiar scent that instantly brings back memories of childhood: the fragrance of apple trees fills the air, gently sweeping us away and inviting us to daydream. It is late summer. Our eyes are met with a scene of abundance, and we can’t help but think that anyone who isn’t moved by this must be made of something tough.

Here, crisp apples with vibrant red cheeks grin cheekily from the trees, while grapes glisten in shades of golden yellow and purple under the sun, waiting to be among the first to ripen. The Lana region is renowned for its fruit cultivation, and perhaps also for the many fruit nets draped over the trees, bushes, and vines like delicate, glittering cobwebs, protecting the harvest from hail.

Where the soul goes on a journey. On the local mountain and in the vineyards.

Lana is not only abundant in fruit, but also rich in hiking trails and irrigation channels. Die *Waalwege* – wie die Wege entlang der alten Wasserläufe genannt werden – wurden einst gebaut, um die Felder zu bewässern und das Wasser aus den Bergen kontrolliert ins Tal zu leiten. Heute sind die Pfade, die ursprünglich zur Wartung dieser Wasserläufe dienten, beliebte Spazierwege. Oder, wie wir sie liebevoll nennen, „Flanierwege“ – ohne nennenswerte Steigung, dafür umso meditativer.

Einer dieser *Waalwege* ist der Brandiswaalweg. Er führt durch Kastanienhaine, Weinberge und Wiesen bis zum Brandis-Wasserfall, der eine Kraft und Vitalität ausstrahlt, von der wir gerne einen Schluck nehmen. Für diejenigen, die es etwas sportlicher mögen, empfehlen wir den Hausberg von Lana, das Vigiljoch. Ein Berg mit einer Vielzahl an Wanderwegen, die für alle Niveaus geeignet sind – ob Familie, Bergfan, Paragleiter oder Kletterer – hier findet jeder, was er sucht.

Auch für diejenigen von uns, die vielleicht in der Bewegung Ruhe finden wollen, entspannen, abschalten und den Alltag hinter sich lassen möchten, bietet das Vigiljoch eine Oase. Es ist außerdem der Ausgangspunkt der Via Vigilius, einem der schönsten Weitwanderwege in Südtirol bis nach Trient im Trentino, dessen Begehung etwa acht Tage in Anspruch nimmt.

Find out more at: www.lanaregion.it

Relearning the art of living. In the first art of living hotel in South Tyrol.

The art of living is, in fact, not difficult, but in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we sometimes forget it. It skillfully hides between the lines of our to-do lists, amidst the quickly folded laundry and the rushed dinners in front of the TV. Yet, we have discovered a place that reminds us of this lost art of living – of how to slow down and become more aware of the moments in between.

This place is called Schwarzschmied. Nestled among the vineyards and orchards of Lana, the Dissertori family has created an oasis where guests can find space and time for themselves. „At best, a stay with us inspires you to live your life even better and more consciously,“ explains host Klaus Dissertori. This vision, shared with his mother Sieglinde, led to the creation of South Tyrol’s first art-of-living hotel.

The hoteliers have brought this vision to life by combining holistic wellness with refined design, high-class art, and local slow food cuisine. And in our view, they’ve done so with great success! Schwarzschmied is an absolute must-stay for anyone longing for balance, eager to rediscover the art of living, and passionate about yoga, meditation, and exceptional food.

Click here for the hotel: www.schwarzschmied.com

South Tyrolean fresh cuisine: from the garden to the table.

If you travel to Lana in late summer or fall, you’ll be doubly rewarded. The climate still carries that Italian-Mediterranean warmth, and you’ll experience a natural composition of scents, fruits, and colors that you can not only see but also taste. At this time of year, everything here comes fresh from the garden straight to your plate.

Another personal highlight for us? You don’t have to choose between mountains and Mediterranean flair, not in the landscape nor in the cuisine. Here, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: Austria and Italy. And for me, that means Kaiserschmarrn and tiramisu.

A glass of Vernatsch to top it all off? Absolutely not to be missed!

Our very personal insider tips.

Yoga in the glass house: at Hotel Schwarzschmied and Hotel Arnica, you’ll find an incredibly beautiful ambiance combined with top-class yoga instructors who teach on all levels – body, mind, and soul. These venues also host fantastic retreats!

For dining, Gasthaus Reichhalter: is the place to be in Lana, though it’s often fully booked, so be sure to reserve ahead of time.

And if you’re looking for a break from wine, the Pfefferlechner beer garden offers home-brewed beer – including non-alcoholic options, which we find very appealing – along with delicious South Tyrolean specialties.