Etsch / Adige

The Adige, known as Etsch in German, rises high in the Alps near the Reschen Pass in the upper Vinschgau Valley at around 1550 meters and travels as Italy’s second-longest river for about 410 kilometers through strikingly varied terrain. From the sun-drenched orchards and narrow valleys of South Tyrol past Merano and Bolzano, where it is joined by the Isarco, it continues south through Trentino and vineyard-clad slopes before entering the Po Plain near Verona and flowing parallel to the Po into the Adriatic. Well-developed cycle paths invite long rides that descend from the mountains to the lowlands, passing castles, wine villages and scenic riverbanks. In the upper reaches, rafting, kayaking and canoeing thrive on livelier currents, while hiking trails, riverside promenades and fishing spots open further opportunities for outdoor leisure amid the shifting alpine and Mediterranean landscapes.