The Alpe di Siusi is one of the best viewing terraces in the Alps. To the west you can't miss the Sassolungo (Langkofel) and its neighbour the Sassopiatto, and to the south-west runs the long wall of the Catinaccio (Rosengarten), which means rose garden. Legend puts the kingdom of King Laurin right here. As the Ladin story goes, the dwarf king was betrayed and robbed of his magic belt, so he condemned his roses never to be seen again by day or by night. But he forgot dawn and dusk, and ever since, at those two hours, the rock glows pink.
That's the enrosadira, the effect where dolomite, rich in calcium and magnesium carbonate, turns pink and red when low light hits it. On the Catinaccio it's especially strong. You reach the best spots along the flat trails of the plateau, or take the lifts higher up, where open meadows frame the summits with nothing in the way. Go at sunset, camera ready.
Frequently asked questions
What is the enrosadira of the Catinaccio?
It's the way the dolomite catches fire in pink and red at sunrise and sunset. On the Catinaccio it's especially vivid, and local Ladin tradition ties it to the legend of King Laurin and his rose garden.
Where is the best place to see the Sassolungo?
From the west-facing meadows of the Alpe di Siusi, and from the higher ground the ski lifts reach, the Sassolungo and the Sassopiatto stand out at their full scale.