San Genesio Atesino
San Genesio Atesino (Jenesien in German) is a municipality in South Tyrol perched on a sunny plateau overlooking Bolzano, easily r...
Updated 20 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in San Genesio Atesino now
The story
The story of San Genesio Atesino
The plateau above Bolzano
San Genesio Atesino sits on a broad, sunny plateau facing the city of Bolzano, just a few kilometres away as the crow flies but separated by a considerable difference in altitude. The most distinctive link between the two is the San Genesio cable car, which departs from a district of Bolzano and in just a few minutes carries visitors from the valley floor up to the village, comfortably covering more than a thousand metres of ascent while offering sweeping views along the way. This connection has made the plateau easy to reach even without a car, and over time it has helped San Genesio develop as a holiday destination for residents of Bolzano seeking cooler air in summer. The village centre, with its square and traditional houses, retains an intimate atmosphere far from city traffic, while still remaining within easy reach of the services of South Tyrol's capital.
The Salto plateau and its larches
The best-known feature of San Genesio's territory is the Salto plateau (Salten), a vast tableland stretching north of the village that is considered the largest high-altitude larch plateau in Europe. Here larches grow sparsely, alone or in small clusters, interspersed with wide green meadows and pastures that once sustained the area's farming economy. This open, luminous landscape, quite different from the dense conifer forests typical of other alpine areas, creates an environment particularly suited to long, relaxing walks, with views opening up in every direction. In autumn, when the larch needles turn a golden yellow, the Salto plateau puts on a striking display of colour that draws hikers and photographers from across the region, while in summer the flowering meadows and the light shade of the scattered trees offer welcome relief on the hottest days.
Views of the Dolomites
Thanks to its elevated, open position, the San Genesio plateau offers some of the widest and most recognisable panoramas in South Tyrol. To the east rise the pale walls of the Sciliar, the unmistakable profile of the Catinaccio and the rounded shapes of the Latemar, three of the region's most photographed Dolomite massifs, clearly visible on clear days from the viewpoints of the Salto plateau. On the opposite side, looking west, the eye instead meets the more rugged peaks of the Tessa mountain group, on the border with Val Passiria, which close the horizon with a wilder character. This dual panoramic exposure, rare for a plateau of relatively modest size, makes San Genesio a privileged vantage point for admiring both the Dolomites and the Rhaetian Alps in a single outing, without needing to reach high altitudes or tackle demanding routes.
Haflinger horses and farming traditions
San Genesio Atesino is historically one of the localities most closely tied to the Haflinger horse breed, the small chestnut-coated horse with a pale mane that originated on these very plateaus above Bolzano. The breeding of this horse, now known and appreciated worldwide, has its roots in the mountain farming economy, where horses were valuable for transporting people and goods along the steep paths between the masi. Events, parades and horseback rides still celebrate this bond today, keeping alive a tradition interwoven with the rural life of the plateau. The masi scattered among the meadows and sparse woods, some still active in producing milk, cheese and local specialities, tell of a mountain way of life built on self-sufficiency and seasonal work, and several of them open their doors to visitors for a first-hand experience of traditional farming life.
Hiking, horse riding and surroundings
The network of trails crossing the San Genesio plateau and the neighbouring Salto is ideal for hikes of every level, from easy loop walks among the meadows to longer treks towards panoramic viewpoints and the most secluded masi. Many routes can also be ridden on horseback, in an area that has always been suited to riding thanks to its Haflinger tradition, with riding stables and guided horseback excursions available through the sparse woods. The proximity of Bolzano, reachable in just a few minutes by cable car or by road, makes it possible to alternate days outdoors on the plateau with visits to the city, making San Genesio a convenient base for anyone wishing to combine mountain tranquillity with the cultural life and services of South Tyrol's capital, in every season of the year.
Not to be missed
- Ride the San Genesio cable car up from Bolzano to the plateau
- Walk among the scattered larches of the Salto plateau (Salten)
- Admire the Sciliar, Catinaccio and Latemar peaks from the plateau's viewpoints
- Discover the Haflinger horse tradition with a horseback ride
- Visit traditional mountain farms (masi) and local produce
To see
What to see in San Genesio Atesino
Routes · Trovido Route
