The Legend of King Laurino

Rosy mountains
One of the most fascinating legends of the Dolomites explains why these mountains are tinged with pink at sunset (a phenomenon known as enrosadira).

They say that once upon a time, on the slopes of Mount Catinaccio, where you can see a patch of snow until late spring, there was a beautiful palace mountain belonging to King Laurino and surrounded by a magnificent rose garden; hence the mountain’s German name, Rosengarten.

King Laurino reigned over a people of dwarves who mined the bowels of the mountain to extract crystal, silver and gold.
As well as these riches, the king possessed two magical weapons: a belt that gave him the strength of twelve men and a hat that made him invisible.

One day, the King of Alto Adige decided to betroth his daughter Similde, who was famed far and wide for her beauty. So he organised a May jaunt inviting all the noblemen from the neighbouring towns. Everyone except King Laurino who decided to come along anyway. As an invisible guest thanks to his hat.

When King Laurino finally saw the beautiful Similde on the tournament ground he fell in love with her at first sight. Without thinking twice he swept her up onto his horse and galloped away with her.

The other nobles galloped off after him and soon reached his palace, forcing their way into his rose garden. King Laurino put on his magical belt and threw himself into the fray. He soon realised however that he could not fight against so many brave men. In fact he realised that he was losing ground.

So he put on his hat of invisibility and began running around the rose garden, convinced that he could not be seen. But the shaking branches of the rose bushes gave his hiding place away. The knights caught hold of him and slashed off his magical belt.

King Laurino, in his rage, turned towards the garden that had betrayed him and cursed it: “never again, by day or by night, shall human eyes admire you”. But in his fury, he forgot about dawn and sunset which is when Mount Catinaccio takes on the hue of a beautiful rose garden.

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