Bormio is an age-old town, offering its visitors arts, architecture and history of rare beauty. For those who want to spend some time outdoors, relaxing amidst nature and doing sport, Bormio has thermal spas, the Stelvio National Park and is surrounded by the Rhaetian Alps, a vast and well-equipped ski area with certified instructors at your service.
Open-air sport isn't lacking in Bormio. Hiking, horse riding, trekking, cross-country skiing, cycling and long walks are available for every age and fitness level, throughout Bormio's valleys. It's also lovely to simply relax and take in the scenery or enjoy romantic dinners at top quality restaurants. With a favourable climate, Bormio is located in a broad valley at the heart of the Alps, surrounded by easily traversable mountains, the source of hot springs. It's the perfect place for families, even those with small children.
Not far from Bormio, the Stelvio Pass is one of the highest Alpine roads in Europe. From there you can reach Trentino, descending along the Trafoi Valley to Bolzano, or through the Resia Pass to the Austrian border. On the other side, via the Santa Maria Pass, you can reach Switzerland. The Stelvio Pass is a unique observation point from which to enjoy the magnificence of the Alps. It has always been a popular destination for ski enthusiasts, and for the national Alpine and Nordic ski teams. Stelvio embodies the perfect blend of nature and sport. The glacier and surrounding area are part of the Stelvio National Park , with its invaluable ecological riches. In addition to being a place for summer skiing, the Stelvio Pass is an optimum training ground for professional and amateur cyclists. Together with Gavia and Mortirolo, the stage of the Giro d'Italia, which passes through here, is one of the most trying and spectacular. It's known as Cima Coppi because it is the "highest" of all the stages.
The park's scenery includes majestic rocky peaks, verdant forests and mountain pastures. It is crossed by numerous torrents flowing through the valley, some of which feed important rivers such as the Adda and the Oglio. There are glaciers, some visible from Bormio, which often feed these torrents. Major valleys include the Val Venosta , Val Martello , dominated by the peak of Cevedale, and Trafoi , which borders on the Ortler mountain range. Typical Alpine wildlife present in the Stelvio National Park includes deer, who live in the thick forests of Valtellina, roe deer, who live at the forest edge, and at high altitudes you can also find chamois and ibexes, foxes, marmots and ermines.
Bormio's hot springs have attracted countless tourists throughout the ages with their curative properties. There are nine springs at the foot of these Alps, and their average temperature ranges from 38 to 41 degrees Celsius, reaching maximum temperatures in winter-spring and minimum during summer. The Bagni di Bormio Spa Resort , located on the site of the Old Baths and the New Baths, are 3 km from Bormio, while the Bormio Terme is within the city limits.
After recharging with sport and relaxing at the spa, it's time to eat. Valtellina cuisine is rich with strong traditional flavours, but is also delicate and can satisfy even the most refined palate. Smooth enchanting flavours characterise these simple dishes, whose main ingredients are butter, cheese, potatoes and Saracen flour. Some of the most famous dishes are pizzoccheri, sciatt and polenta taragna, and as for cured meats, there are bresaola, violini di capra and slinziga. Typical cheeses include scimudin, casera and bitto, while meat entrées include deer and roe deer. The delicacies and flavours of this magical valley will leave every tourist satisfied and smiling. Our last minute holiday offers to Bormio will stoke your desire to visit this beautiful place.
