Hi - Driving to Corvara from Verona and was wondering what the best route was and if chains required to get there. ? Any Dolomiti experts out there?
Many Thanks
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Have driven this route many times to ski in Corvara and area. Chains are a legal requirement and yes we have had to use them often. Our normal route is to follow the A22 towards Bolzano. We check if the Passo Gardena is open and clear. If it is we come off at Bolzano North and follow the valley at Ponte Gardena through Selva and over the pass. A stunning drive but often it's too doo difficult and may even be closed. Alternatively we stay on the A 22 past Bressanone and take the road towards Brunico. Watch out for treble name spellings. German Ladin Italian !, a few miles short of Brunico at San Lorenzo take the SS244 signposted to Val Pusteral and Alta Badia This route is always open and although longer is a faster route and not much difference in time. We are there in 2 weeks and this time driving from Venice.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Many thanks for this reply - how do you know if the Passo Gardena is open and clear - is this on the CCISS.IT website?
Also - any tips for the Corvara area? We are two families self catering so need to find a supermarket to stock up and a bakery locally if possible.
don't recall seeing any supermarkets in Corvara, but I'd have thought there must be one.
pretty sure I saw a Spar in La Villa, which is not far away, and you'd pass it if driving the long way round via (almost) Brunico/Bruneck, rather than over the pass from Val Gardena.
certainly advise paying attention to road signs when turning off the Autostrada/Autobahn. eg... when taking the Brunico/Bruneck road, it is only signposted Brixen/Bressanone (which isn't where you're going), and Pustertal/Val Pusteria. Only after turning off and paying at the toll booth do you see the sign for Bruneck/Brunico. The Bolzano turn off which iirc is quite a distance from Val Gardena (to access Corvara via a pass) is probably similar.
tbh, the way via Pustertal / Val Pusteria, and turning off at San Lorenzo probably isn't all that much longer than faffing with an Alpine pass, and will almost certainly be dry roads all the way to Corvara.
We use the http://www.provincia.bz.it/traffico/prodotti/bolletino-traffico-testuale.asp?type=2. This has info on passo Gardena. There is a supermarket selling just about everything you would need. It's called Kostner. It also sells gifts and sports clothing and books and maps etc. it's not a huge food section but very nice quality stuff. We do half board so usually only need bits and bobs. It really depends which end of the village you are situated in as its long and strung out with lots of wee shops all the way down the Main Street. Kostner is up at the old end of town where the buses come in. I have seen cake and bread shops and butchers too. It's a lovely resort and people enjoy the evening Passegiata calling in for a wine or even to a tea shop.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thanks for all replies -Did this trip last week
The Selva pass was shown as Gesperrt on the motorway signs which I took to mean blocked on the way up so went via Brunico and visited the big InterSpar there and stocked up. Roads were good. On the way back there was a massive traffic jam outside Brunico all the way back to the motorway. Not sure if this is typical Saturday morning traffic on changeover day. Should have tried going over the pass to Selva from Corvara and then making for motorway.
After all it is free
After all it is free
yup there's always a Saturday am traffic jam there, usually with carabinieri policing that junction where the Badia valley joins Pustertal valley.
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Quote:
Not sure if this is typical Saturday morning traffic on changeover day.
probably, especially if some passes were closed. I drove that way after the Birthday Bash last year (as ALL the passes were closed) and it was very slow getting back to the motorway. If you have the choice it's best to leave resorts either very late or very early on changeover days.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
ropetow wrote:
Many thanks for this reply - how do you know if the Passo Gardena is open and clear - is this on the CCISS.IT website?
Also - any tips for the Corvara area? We are two families self catering so need to find a supermarket to stock up and a bakery locally if possible.
Thanks again
Corvara has everything you need. It's a lovely little place for families. If you're driving you can always stock up in the supermarkets outside Verona rather than paying mountain premium prices. Do the hidden valley with your kids if they're OK skiers. The horse drawn lift is memorable experience....
@cameronphillips2000, they've been and gone and come back
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
pam w wrote:
@cameronphillips2000, they've been and gone and come back
Oh well. They can look at my nice video with horses at the end. I really liked horses before they dragged me along a long flat bit after an afternoon of polling...
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
we missed the horses - took a bus - couldn't fit everything in. Looks like fun. I didn't mind the poling though - kept me warm and is good for your lungs and bingo wings. But possibly you are not worried about your bingo wings.