Ciao from Molveno, a hidden gem in the Dolomites!
One of the main reasons I chose CIMBA was its proximity to the Dolomites, a part of Italy I had always dreamed of exploring. Six of us wanted a peaceful weekend getaway, and our professor recommended Molveno, a small town nestled in the Dolomites about two hours from campus.
Our group decided to hire a taxi to take us there and back, which made the trip simple and stress-free. If you’re prone to motion sickness, I’d suggest taking medicine before the drive; the mountain roads can get curvy. Luckily, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the incredible views along the drive, rolling hills, tall trees, turquoise rivers, and mountain towns that looked straight out of a postcard.
The first night in Molveno, we spent at a cozy restaurant called Imperia, the food and drinks were amazing, and the staff were extremely welcoming. For us, going in October, the weather was a bit chilly at night, but I was comfortable in jeans in a sweater. We stayed in a very cute pink Airbnb, an apartment called Residence Rio Piccolo, which was surprisingly affordable even though we booked it just two days before. The apartment had a couple of balconies with great views of the mountains.
The next morning, we walked to a coffee shop right next to Lake Molveno, which offered fun specialty coffees to try, such as a Nutella and Pistachio. We spent the morning relaxing by the lake and watching the mountains and sky reflect across the water. It was seriously not like anything I have seen before. There is a hike that loops around the entire lake that we were told takes around 2-3 hours, which I wish we had time for, but it is definitely on my list for next time.
My favorite part of the trip was taking the cable car up the mountain; it is a must-do! The ride gives you an entire view of the town and costs around 17 euros round trip. At the top, we watched paragliders and had beautiful views of the peaks and the lake. There is also a cafe, several hiking/biking trails, parks, and even a small mountain farm with highland cows, pigs, sheep, and bunnies. We tried to visit, but it had already closed for the day, so I recommend checking the hours beforehand. We spent the rest of our time on the mountain walking along a short trail filled with wooden animal art, which was a charming touch to the hike.
After spending the afternoon exploring the mountain, we took the cable car back down and wandered through a few souvenir/gift shops and a grocery store. I even found a few little gifts for my mom, which I am excited about! That evening, we had dinner at Pizzico, a delicious pizza restaurant that also had a very good Hugo Spritz. We ended the night back at our Airbnb, trying Italian snacks, wine, laughing over card games, and constantly expressing how grateful and awesome it was to be there.
On our last morning, we had breakfast and coffee at a café near the souvenir shops, skipped rocks in the lake with the rest of the Molveno visitors, treated ourselves to some gelato, and took one last stroll back to a small hike to a nearby beautiful waterfall. It was the perfect way to end a short trip to the mountains!
When planning trips while abroad, it is so easy to focus on visiting the major, beautiful cities across Europe, especially with so much to see in just one short semester. But if you have the chance, I highly recommend setting aside a weekend to escape to the Dolomites; it is truly a special experience that I
promise you won’t regret. My weekend in Molveno was the perfect way to recharge before another full week of classes and trips ahead. It is a place I am truly thankful to have discovered during my time abroad. Ciao for now!