Riva di Sotto - Appiano - South Tyrolean Wine Road - Oltradige

Amidst orchards and vineyards stretches the extensive grounds of the Appiano Golf Club: It is known as “The Blue Monster”

Map See map
20/04/2024 +5° +14° Weekly weather forecast
See video
Video : Appiano
D_0862_unterrain_und_frangart_von_oben.JPG

Bird’s eye view on the two districts of Appiano on the Wine Road, Riva di Sotto and Frangarto: The Oltradige state road runs through the middle.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0732_schild_suedtiroler_weinstrasse_bei_pillhof.JPG

Here you are on the South Tyrolean Wine Road, which comprises 16 municipalities between Nalles and Salorno and 4,249 hectares of vineyards.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0168_eppan_unterrain.JPG

Riva di Sotto or Unterrain, in German, lies at about 240 metres a.s.l. below Mt. Macaion (Gantkofel).
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0128_unterrain_rasen_und_hocheppan.JPG

Here it is: Mt. Macaion, a 1,866 m high mountain and north-eastern cornerstone of the Mendola Ridge, with Appiano Castle recognisable below.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0161_unterrain_strasse_bei_kreuzung.JPG

Venerable walls in the village: One of them is the centuries-old Hungerhausen Residence, whose façade has been preserved.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0156_unterrain_ansitz_hungerhausen.JPG

Details make the difference… Baroque bay windows and round and pointed arch entrances to the cellars adorn the façade of the residence.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0152_unterrain_apfelbluete.JPG

Riva di Sotto, like the entire Oltradige region, is particularly beautiful during the fruit blossom season - a sea of white flowers in April.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0100_spargelfeld_bei_unterrain_und_wilder_mohn_mohnblumen.JPG

Not only fruit and wine are cultivated in the fields between Riva di Sotto and Terlano on the Wine Road, even asparagus thrives here.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_golf-ball-schlaeger-231647716.jpeg

At the end of Riva di Sotto is the new Appiano Golf Club, a 9-hole golf course that is also suitable for players with a higher handicap.
Foto: © AdobeStock
D_7419-weg-2-abstieg-nach-unterrain.JPG

The hike to the Lipp tavern in Predonico, a three-hour tour, takes you from Riva di Sotto through the deciduous forest up to Appiano Castle.
Foto: AT, © Peer
D_0718_missian_wegweiser_nach_andrian_und_unterrain.JPG

You can also explore Missiano and the neighbouring municipality of Andriano on foot - various points offer wonderful panoramic views.
Foto: AT, © Peer

On the western edge of the market town of Appiano are the houses of Riva di Sotto (Unterrain) below Mt. Macaion. Farms dedicated to fruit growing and a few old manor houses such as the Hungerhausen Residence are scattered along the road towards Andriano, surrounded by wide apple orchards and vineyards. One building is the small church, which was dedicated to Saint Nicholas in 1512 AD. This protector of traders and travellers was chosen on purpose: There used to be a customs station in Riva di Sotto. The tower was added to the church in the 17th century.

In spring, the sweet scent of apple blossoms accompanies every walk or bike ride. The old road that connects the Pillhof industrial zone with Andriano runs parallel to the new MeBo motorway in the distance. The spring hike from the orchards in the Adige Valley to the Lipp tavern in Predonico is particularly popular. During the three-hour journey of discovery through the countryside of Appiano, you can plan a break with a marvellous panoramic view and South Tyrolean delicacies.

At the edge of Riva di Sotto, the new Appiano Golf Club was harmoniously integrated into the orchard landscape a few years ago. The clubhouse with restaurant can be seen from the road, behind it stretches the 9-hole course, which was named "The Blue Monster" because of its water features - in contrast to the jointly managed "The Mountain Beast" on the Passo di Costalunga.

Suggest an edit/correction