A trip to Bondone, the   ‘Alp’of city of Trento

The Monte Bondone is far more than just a mountain for all of Trentino, it is the city’s alpine pasture, its high alpine garden, playground and retreat.

From the geological point of view, however, the Bondone is far more than just a mountain. As the author Aldo Gorfer writes, it is a whole mountain massif, bounded to the north by the Vela stream, to the west by the Valle dei Laghi and to the Sarca valley, and to the east by the Adige Valley.

Especially in the summer the Bondone is full of excursionists, hikers and climbers, given the numerous hiking and climbing trails. They are available in different levels of difficulty, from simple to challenging climbing routes.

In winter, the skiers are frolicking on the slopes of Bondone. There are both downhill skiing and cross-country skiing, and especially among the youngest, the snowpark that in 2013 hosted the Winter Universiade races is very popular.

The heroic deed of Charly Gaul

We mentioned already that the Bondone is a popular destination of hikers, mountaineers, skiers and cross-country skiers, but it also enjoys a legendary reputation among cyclists. Not least of all, the Luxemburger Charly Gaul, who won a stage of the Giro d’Italia on June 8, 1956, contributed to its fame. It was not just any stage but one of the most difficult ones ever. The 240 kilometer long stage started in Merano, the cyclists got caught in a snow storm at the Bondone, which Gaul braved determined. Ultimately, the Luxemburger won the stage with a lead of more than eight minutes.

The Bondone was afterwards three more times the stage finish of the Giro, but Charly Gaul’s heroic performance remains not forgotten – by the way thanks to a bicycle race named after him, which is carried out year after year.