Like its German counterparts Oberhof and Ruhpolding, Antholz, and its Südtirol Arena are a big part of the regional identity. The road up the Antholz Valley is rural Italy at its best; the three Antholz villages (Niedertal, Mittertal and Obertal) and the enticing agriturismo accommodations at almost every turn are postcard-perfect in the shadow of the jagged Dolomites that sprout up on three sides. The Südtirol Arena, perfectly dropped below a stunning snow-capped peak, tops out the climb up the valley. Set at 1600-meters high, the Arena and surrounding tracks are almost guaranteed to look like a winter wonderland each January.