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From Innsbruck to VeniceThrough the Tyrolean Alps
For splendid architecture, rich culture and a peaceful high valley in the mountains near the Austrian-Italian border, choose this romantic journey from Innsbruck to Venice. Nights: 7 Starting point: Hotel Weisses Kreuz (3*), Innsbruck. Located in the quiet, pedestrianised streets of the Old Town, the traditionally Tyrolean Weisses Kreuz is well-placed for visiting Innsbruck’s major sights. The origins of the hotel date back to the 15th century; Mozart stayed here in 1769. Bedrooms are furnished with classical elegance, while the hotel’s facilities include a wine cellar and coffee shop.
Day 1: today is free to explore Innsbruck, known as ‘the city at the heart of the Alps’ because it is surrounded by towering peaks. Take your time to wander through the pretty squares and charming streets of the Old Town. Emperor Maximilian I, who reigned from Innsbruck in the late 15th century, left his mark on the city in the form of numerous grand monuments, not least the Goldenes Dachl (a covered balcony clad in 2,657 gilded copper tiles from which his courtiers could look over the square below) and the Cenotaph (an empty tomb surrounded by 28 impressive statues). Also worth seeking out are the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum, the City Tower, whose onion-shaped dome affords splendid views over the Old Town, and the Renaissance palace of Ambras. Accommodation: Hotel Weisses Kreuz, as above. Day 2: from Innsbruck, your train travels along the Sill Valley, with mountains all around you. You enter Italy via the Brenner Pass, where Hitler and Mussolini met in 1940 to seal their pact, and follow the River Eisack to Bozen (Bolzano), where you are met for the scenic drive along the Schnalstal Valley to German-speaking Karthaus. The rail and taxi journey takes approximately three hours in total.
Accommodation: Hotel Goldene Rose (3*), Karthaus. Located in the centre of this attractive village, the Goldene Rose is the epitome of a charming small hotel, combining style and understated elegance with cosiness and intimacy. What really makes the hotel, however, is the hospitality of hosts Paul and Steffi Grüner, who pride themselves on their attentive service and delicious Tyrolean cuisine. The cosy bedrooms are decorated individually in warm, earthy colours, while the hotel’s facilities include an atmospheric bar, a tranquil wood-panelled reading room complete with a fire, and a small spa incorporating a sauna. Days 3 & 4: you have two full days to make the most of the downhill skiing on the glacier at the end of the valley. This little-known domain offers superb skiing away from the crowds, and caters very well for beginners and intermediates – the quiet slopes make it a great place to learn or improve. There are also 20 kilometres of winter walking paths if you prefer to explore on foot, and, to learn more about the culture and history of this beautiful valley, it is well worth visiting the cloisters of Karthaus’ 14th-century monastery and the museum devoted to the Copper Age man found preserved in the nearby glacier. If your stay includes a Sunday, you may also be able to attend a musical recital performed in an igloo on instruments made largely from ice, a unique experience! Please contact us for details. Accommodation: Hotel Goldene Rose, as above.
Day 5: after a transfer by taxi back to the station, your second rail journey descends out of the mountains, crossing the broad Veneto Plain to reach Venice. The journey takes approximately four-and-a-half hours in total. Accommodation: Hotel Due Fanali (3*), Venice. The Due Fanali enjoys a good location on a quiet square in the Santa Croce district. There are just sixteen traditionally but simply furnished bedrooms. Day 6: Venice's dazzling beauty never ceases to delight even the most frequent visitor. It is always a joy to stroll through the narrow streets linked by small bridges or to take the vaporetti down the Grand Canal and around the islands, especially in winter when the city is at its quietest – and arguably its best. With so many fascinating churches, museums and galleries, there is always something new to discover once you have visited the Basilica of St Mark, the Doges' Palace and the other main sights. Accommodation: Hotel Due Fanali, as above.
Similar holidays: Austria's Great Cities, The Glacier Express, Through the Pyrenees Prices & travel 2009:
Included travel: British Airways out Heathrow-Munich (1h50) (dep 0940), home Venice-Gatwick (2h10) (arr 2045) > Notes on prices > Any queries? Let us call you back  |
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Karthaus, in the Südtirol 
