Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Val di Non
The first thing you notice about Val di Non is the apple trees - their gnarly, trellised
branches stretch for miles, and in spring their fragrant blossoms scent the air. Craggy
castles dot the surrounding rises, including the stunning
Castel Thun
( 0461 49 28 29; adult/
reduced €6/4; 10am-5pm Tue-Sun)
. The valley is centred on
Cles
, whose
tourist office
(
0463 422 88 83; Corso Dante 30; 9am-12.30pm & 3-6pm Mon-Sat, 9am-noon Sun Jul & Aug)
is just
off the main road through town. In the town's historic centre is
Antica Trattoria
( 0463 42
16 31;
www.anticatrattoriacles.it
; via Roma 13, Cles; meals €38; noon-2.30pm & 7-10pm Sun-Fri)
, a
fabulously atmospheric place with a modern take on Trentino specialities.
Italy's apple giant, Melinda, is a valley girl. A couple of villages on from Cles, near
Mollaro,
Melinda Mondo
( 0463 46 92 99;
www.melinda.it
;
Via della Cooperazione 21;
8.30am-12.30pm & 3-7pm Mon-Sat Oct-Jul, 9am-noon Sun Jul)
, conducts tours of the orchards and
processing plants and has a cheery shop selling apples and all sorts of apple-related
products. Look out for the big cheese next door, the home of
Trentingrana
, Trentino's
sweet, subtle 'Parmesan-style' Grana.
Val di Sole
Leaving Cles in the rear-view mirror, the apple orchards draw you west into the aptly
named Val di Sole (Valley of the Sun) tracing the course of the foaming river Noce, with
its charming main town of
Malè
. This valley is renowned for the full complement of out-
door pursuits, and is popular with young Trentini. The Noce offers great rafting and fish-
ing.
In winter, the valley can provide good alternative accommodation to the Brenta resorts.
Activities
Centro Rafting Val di Sole
( 0463 97 32 78;
www.raftingcenter.it
;
Via Gole 105, Dimaro; Jun-Sep)
Runs rafting trips
(from €67), as well as kayaking, canyoning, Nordic walking and other adventures.
RAFTING
Cicli Andreis
CYCLING
