Nova Levante is a comune in the autonomous province of South Tyrol, about 15 km southeast of Bolzano, strung along the Val d'Ega at 1,182 m. Just over 2,000 people live in its 51 km² of valley floor, spruce forest and rock, and German is the first language of nine in ten of them. What brings people here is the setting: the walls of the Catinaccio (Rosengarten) above the roofs, Lago di Carezza (Karersee) a short drive up the valley, and the road east over the Passo di Costalunga (Karerpass) into Val di Fassa.
Nova Levante
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €). ATMs are widespread in cities and towns and accept major international credit and debit cards. Credit cards are accepted in urban and tourist areas; cash is essential in rural regions and small towns.
- Language
- German and Italian are both official; German dominates in villages and mountain areas, Italian in lower towns. Ladin is spoken in some eastern valleys. English is widely understood in tourist zones, ski resorts and hotels, but less common in rural villages.
- Power plug
- Europlug (Type C), Schuko (Type F) and Type L (Italian three-round-pin) sockets are in use. Voltage is 230V, 50Hz.
- Visa
- Schengen visa-free for 90 days (non-EU/EEA citizens). EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may stay indefinitely. All non-EU/EEA/Swiss visitors must declare their presence within 8 days of arrival. Stays longer than 90 days require an appropriate visa and residence permit.
- Time zone
- Central European Time (CET): UTC+01:00. Central European Summer Time (CEST): UTC+02:00 (last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
- Tap water
- Safe to drink. Tap water is well maintained throughout Italy and perfectly drinkable. In some peninsular areas it may be cloudy with a slight taste; most Italians prefer bottled water. Public fountains marked 'Acqua potabile' are safe to refill from. Avoid fountains marked 'Acqua non potabile'. Southern coastal areas may have an unusual taste due to desalination but water is always safe.
- Tipping
- Not customary. Restaurants include a service charge (coperto); waiters do not expect tips. Leaving loose change in bars and cafés is common. Tips cannot be added to credit card bills—bring cash if you wish to tip.
- Emergency
- 112 (Carabinieri, general emergency); 113 (Polizia di Stato); 115 (Fire Department); 118 (Medical Rescue).
When to go
High season
Dec – Mar
Ski season, and the village is full. The valley floor loses the sun early behind the Catinaccio, so afternoons turn cold fast once the light goes off the slopes.
Low season
Apr – May
Between the two seasons. Snow is going off the meadows while the high ground is still white, and the village is at its quietest — poor weather leaves very little to do here.
High season
Jun – Sep
Walking weather and the busiest stretch of the year. Lago di Carezza draws the coach and day-trip traffic in the middle of the day; early morning and late afternoon belong to whoever stayed the night.
Shoulder
Oct – Nov
The larches on the slopes turn gold in October and the low light is the best of the year for the Catinaccio walls. By November the valley is grey and waiting for snow.
How long to stay
Two or three nights is the honest figure: one day for the lake and the valley, one for the mountains above the village, and an evening or two once the day traffic has drained back towards Bolzano. A single night is enough if Nova Levante is a stop on the way between Bolzano and Val di Fassa. Anyone planning full days on foot in the Catinaccio should give it longer.
Getting around
A car is the practical way in and around. The road up from Bolzano runs through the Val d'Ega, then climbs to the village and carries on past Lago di Carezza to the Passo di Costalunga and down into Val di Fassa — one road doing most of the work, which is why traffic bunches on it in the middle of the day.
The nearest railway station is Bolzano, on the Brenner line, and buses run from the city up the valley. Check the timetable before you count on a late one back down; mountain services thin out in the evening and change with the season.
Winter driving here is mountain driving. The pass roads are snow roads for months at a time, and cars are expected to carry winter tyres or chains.
What to see
Destinations in Nova Levante
Frequently asked questions
Why is Nova Levante also called Welschnofen?
Both names are official. South Tyrol is bilingual, so Welschnofen is the German form and Nova Levante the Italian, and signs and maps carry the two together. At the 2024 census 91.03% of residents gave German as their first language, 8.33% Italian and 0.63% Ladin.How far is Nova Levante from Bolzano?
About 15 km southeast of the city, up the Val d'Ega. Bolzano is the nearest railway station and the obvious base for arriving by train before continuing by road.Does Lago di Carezza belong to Nova Levante?
The municipality takes in the village of Karersee, named after the alpine lake beside it — the lake known in Italian as Lago di Carezza. It sits on the road between Nova Levante and the Passo di Costalunga.How high is the village, and what is it like up there?
Nova Levante stands at 1,182 m, and its 51 km² of territory rises from the valley floor to the rock of the Catinaccio. Evenings are cool even after a hot day, so bring a layer for after dark.