The South Tyrol region of the Dolomites belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918 when it was annexed by Italy (part of a deal with the U.S. during WWI). Today, the region belongs to Italy, but its Austrian roots run deep.

The Dolomites are located entirely within northern Italy, though they sit very close to the Austrian border. This mountain range, part of the Southern Limestone Alps, spans five Italian provinces: Belluno, Bolzano (South Tyrol), Trento, Udine, and Pordenone. The region is famous for its unique cultural blend, as it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. Because of this history, many towns in the Dolomites are officially bilingual, using both Italian and German, and the architecture and cuisine often feel more "Austrian" than traditional Mediterranean Italian. The range is a UNESCO World Heritage site, celebrated for its vertical walls, sheer cliffs, and a high density of narrow, deep, and long valleys. While you can easily cross into Austria via the Brenner Pass nearby, the specific pale-colored peaks and jagged "dolomite" rock formations that define the range are a pride of the Italian Alps, offering world-class skiing in the winter and legendary hiking and "via ferrata" climbing routes during the summer months.