The Passer Valley is surrounded by towering mountains with lush green forests and meadows below. Waterfalls dash down each side, one of them, the Stuller Waterfall— approx. 350 meters— known for being one of the tallest in Europe. But of all the whitewater that lies nestled in the gorges and canyons—the Passer, Etsch, and Rienz—none compare to the beauty and escape provided by the committing canyons of the Passer Gorge.
South Tyrol, which is located in the northernmost province of Italy, on the Austria border, offers a unique blend of Italian and Austrian language and culture that is the legacy of a conflicted past. The region used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy but became part of the Italian state following the First World War. Its residents, who spoke a local dialect of German, were forced to speak Italian and adopt the Italian culture through an aggressive campaign of assimilation, resettlement, and oppression. In response, a strong patriotic resistance arose, which continued until South Tyrol was granted autonomy by the Italian state in 1972.
Today, Austrian and Italian flags decorate the region considered an outdoor adventure paradise: The Dolomites and other surrounding mountain ranges offer a world-class playground for alpinists, climbers, skiers, hikers, bikers, and wannabe influencers. The restaurants provide delicious dishes that meld the specialties of Austrian and Italian cuisine. And, there is the King of the Alps kayak
