FUNES VALLEY: MOTORCYCLE TOUR AMONG THE UNESCO BEAUTIES OF TRENTINO SOUTH TYROL

Home of the famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner, the Funes Valley is the perfect motorbike itinerary to discover an enchanted valley, find relaxation among its suggestive South Tyrolean views and have fun among the curves (with caution) of the state roads. Its ecosystem has remained uncontaminated for centuries, offering those who visit it today the pure pleasure of a unique naturalistic, landscape and socio-gastronomic context. Perfect mix between the typical motorcycle trip and the concept of "Slow-Travel" at tourist intervals (.. trekking, walking, relaxing in the Spa, stops in a farmhouse, etc.) this route is feasible in a weekend even if 3-4 days are much better. This is because there are many things to see and many villages of "passage" are at the same time really interesting destinations. It is enough to mention Bressanone, Casteldarne, Bolzano and the nature reserve of the Puez-Odle National Park in the extreme vicinity. Not surprisingly, this area of ​​Trentino Alto Adige is one of the most beautiful in the Dolomites, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. Are you ready to discover this motorcycle must? Let's go into detail

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FUNES VALLEY BY MOTORCYCLE: THE ROADSITALIA ROUTE

The Roadsitalia motorcycle itinerary in Funes Valley starts from a city full of history, which is worth visiting and which is known for being a motorcycle crossroads: Bolzano. We enter the motorway (A22) and follow it to the Chiusa-Val Gardena exit, crossing Ponte Gardena and the beautiful Trostburg Castle that stands out from above. From here, continue a short distance along the SP74 taking the same panoramic road that changes its name repeatedly (Außermühl, Mileins, Pardell and Via Pizack) arriving directly in Funes Valley. This valley of about 25 square kilometers at the foot of the Odle Group and protected by its peaks offers a multitude of leisure activities dedicated to relaxation and well-being.

Here it is recommended to park the motorbike and take one of the many marked walks and hikes of the forest road, through woods, green meadows and pastures until you reach a Maso or a farmhouse for a lunch that you will hardly forget. The main villages of the Funes Valley are Tiso and San Pietro. The latter is the most important center of the valley and houses a beautiful church consecrated to the apostles St. Peter and Paul (also known as the Cathedral of Funes Valley). From San Pietro there are several simple walks, also ideal for those who are not trained and who do not reach high altitudes. With a little effort it is also possible to reach the waterfall and the famous Erbe Pass on foot.

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Back in the saddle, we resume our journey with a series of gentle curves towards the Erbe Pass, following the SP163 and SP39 and arriving at our second stop. We are at the foot of the magnificent Sass de Putia, once again surrounded by centuries-old woods and enchanting pastures, at the entrance to the Puez-Odle Natural Park. A unique and wonderful setting at 1,987 meters above sea level, the only road link between Val Badia and Isarco Valley. Having made the necessary stop and the usual souvenir photograph, we resume towards San Martino in Badia, a well-known destination for winter tourism which - thanks to the ski carousel of the Dolomiti Superski and Plan de Corones 1 km away - offers unforgettable white weeks . San Martino in Badia is the perfect location to spend the night or a few days in total relaxation and recharge the batteries before restarting the engines.

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Mappa GPX - Clicca per Scaricare

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The last stop before of the turning point is Brunico, reachable by following the signs and the SS244. Brunico is a charming village that has kept its ancient medieval core, a real jewel immersed in the green woods of Val Pusteria that can be visited in about half a day. Now we just have to go back to where we started, that is from Bolzano but not retracing the same route, but a very valid alternative. In fact, following the E66 (Strada della Val Pusteria) you can discover a whole series of panoramic points not to be missed, together with Casteldarne, the Rio Pusteria Lock, the Rodengo Castle, up to Bressanone. We are just under 50 km from Bolzano, at an altitude of 550 meters. Bressanone dates back to the 10th century; was one of the most important cities in South Tyrol, the main medieval village of the Isarco Valley famous and literally taken by assault during the magic of the Christmas markets.

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USEFUL ADVICE ON THE FUNES VALLEY ROUTE BY MOTORCYCLE

This itinerary - which can be divided into several parts or days - has no particular restrictions and constraints such as the Stelvio Pass or other passes that remain closed seasonally. Obviously, caution is never too much, especially when it suddenly starts to snow. The only point a bit more "critical" remains the stretch passed the village of S. Andrea towards Erbe Pass where the roadway becomes narrower and always uphill. That said, the roads are efficiently clean, signposted and with beautiful scenic curves - a real must on motorcycling holidays! And you? Have you ever discovered and traveled the Funes Valley by motorbike? Share your experience in the comments below.