Tires al Catinaccio is the ideal starting point to explore the legendary mountain world of King Laurin
Tires, in the valley of the same name, the Valle di Tires, is a small municipality surrounded by the peaks of the Catinaccio Group, the realm of King Laurin. It is one of the three villages in the Sciliar area: Besides the main village, Tires includes the hamlets of Briè, San Cipriano, and Bagni di Lavina Bianca, as well as the settlements of Gemeier, Kantun, and Villa di Mezzo.
Until recently, the old Steger Saw in Bagni di Lavina Bianca - a rare example of a water-powered Venetian sawmill - housed the Nature Park Visitor Centre. After it moved to a new building in Siusi, the Steger Saw now serves as an information point, providing information about bird calls and handicraft.
Directly by the saw at the entrance to the Val Ciamin, hiking trails begin, leading you to nearby alpine pastures such as the Ciamin Hut and Monte Cavone-Tschafon Hut. The area is part of the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park and borders the Alpe di Siusi protected landscape area. You can explore the landscape on foot or by mountain bike. For a change of pace, horse riding and paragliding are also available.
The Catinaccio is suitable for climbing and mountaineering: The mountain massif is traversed by several via ferratas. Among the most famous are the varied Masaré Via Ferrata, the classic route at the Passo Santner and the Mt. Catinaccio d’Antermoia Route, which at 3,004 metres is the highest peak in the Catinaccio Group. In winter, the Carezza Dolomites Ski Area is a great place.
Numerous lifts take you up the mountain, including the new Tires convertible cable car - the only one of its kind in Italy. On your return in the evening, you can witness the famous alpenglow, known as "Enrosadira" in the region, when the peaks glow in vibrant shades of orange and red.
