Bolzano (Bozen) is often dubbed ‘Gateway to the Dolomites’. Occupying a broad valley basin at an altitude of 265 metres (870 ft) with three beautiful Alpine high plateaux of rolling hills encircling the town horseshoe-like to the north from east to west, if you are coming from the south it is difficult to avoid Bolzano if your destination is the breathtakingly awesome world-famous rock faces known as the Dolomites. In spring the contrast between lush Mediterranean vegetation beside the town’s panoramic sun-drenched promenades and the snow-mantled Dolomites where the skiing season is still in full swing, is especially striking.