The Charming Italian Mountain Village Sitting Between Dramatic Peaks And A Crystal-Clear Lake

Alleghe, Italy is tucked deep in the Dolomites –– the country's famously jagged northeastern mountain range. Behind the serene village and its namesake green lake, the towering 10,500-foot-tall Monte Civetta juts up ferociously, piercing the blue horizon with its razor-sharp edges. With a vertical drop of over 3,200 feet, Civetta humbles the most ambitious mountaineers, who call it the "wall of walls." Alleghe Lake is also the stuff of legends — it is said that a winged, black-tongued dragon with eyes of flashing scarlet once made its home in its unassuming waters. 

The combination of the spectacular mountain, the storybook village of Alleghe, and its legendary lake paint a gorgeous backdrop for life and leisure in Northern Italy. As a travel destination, Alleghe offers an abundance of charm all year long. In the quiet and pleasantly walkable downtown, wooden chalets gaze out over the calm water, their windowboxes overflowing with fuchsia blooms in the warmer months. In the colder months, the same chalets become cozy nests for skiers and other winter athletes who flock to the area to experience Civetta's slopes, which are reputed to be some of the snowiest in this part of Italy. 

Like other scenic towns in the Dolomites, Alleghe makes an incredible base for all kinds of outdoor adventures, especially snow sports. Ski Civetta, which encompasses the Alleghe, Selva di Cadore, and Val di Zoldo resort towns, is part of the Dolomiti SuperSki –– the largest ski area in the world. This means that when you purchase a single pass for the SuperSki area, you get access to 12 different ski valleys, including Ski Civetta. The total ski area comprises a mind-boggling 777 miles of slopes and 450 ski lifts. That's a serious deal for skiers looking to experience as much terrain as possible during a trip to the Dolomites. 

In summer, the mountains around Alleghe transform into a verdant playground. Warm-weather visitors can choose from a multitude of outdoor activities, from quiet walks around Alleghe Lake to energizing e-bike rides in the surrounding forest. Hiking opportunities abound in Alleghe, with easy access to trailheads from town. To access trails above town, hikers can save their legs and hop on the gondola, which stops at a few different areas as it makes its way up and down the mountain. 

Adventurous hikers can attempt one of the bloodcurdling Via Ferrata routes, which are scattered throughout the Dolomites, including in the area around Alleghe. These exhilarating hikes are definitely not for amateurs. They're so steep you have to clip into a metal cable system to keep you from tumbling down the mountain. For fit hikers who are ready for an extreme challenge, a route such as the Via Ferrata degli Alleghesi Civetta could turn out to be the adventure of a lifetime. Another activity in the Alleghe area for thrill seekers is plunging down the mile-long San Tomaso zip line, which happens to be the highest in the entire mountain range.

There are a range of lodging options in and just outside of Alleghe, with most being moderately priced boutique hotels, rustic lodges, self-service apartments, and wellness resorts with attached spas. On average, these will set you back around $100 to $300 hundred per night, with a few exceptions on either end. Keep in mind, however, that prices can always very based on when you book and your travel dates. The top-rated option on Booking.com (with an exceptional rating of 9.5 out of 10) is the Hotel La Maison Wellness & Spa, located around a mile from downtown Alleghe. A room at this hotel is priced at around $300 per night depending on the season. Guests seem to love everything about this hotel, including its calm vibe, lovely views, impeccable service, luxurious spa, and more.

The best way to reach Alleghe is via private vehicle, with the closest major cities being Trento (68 miles away) and Venice (95 miles away), the latter of which has an international airport. While both driving routes pass through beautiful countryside, one route from Venice winds through between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, an enchanting, hilly region that's a must-see for wine lovers. Here, you can tour Prosecco wineries, wander through ancient castles and hill towns, and even visit a 12th-century abbey, Santa Maria di Follina. This road veers slightly west and is longer than more direct routes between Venice and Alleghe. So if you're using Google Maps, be sure to add the towns of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano as intermediate destinations to ensure that you get off the highway (A27 north) at the right exit — the starting point for one of the loveliest detours you'll ever take.