Welcome to Bormio

Situated at 1,225 meters above sea level, Bormio is located in a wide natural amphitheater in the center of the Alps.

In the heart of Alta Valtellina, about 60 km from its capital Sondrio, is surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Rhaetian Alps, which touch 4,000 meters above sea level, and inserted in the Stelvio National Park, boasts beautiful scenery and unspoiled landscapes.

Characterized by a favorable climate, allows you to enjoy the mountains in all seasons. In winter, skiing and all the activities in the open air and on the snow dominate. In spring, summer and autumn you can choose from over 600 km of trails in the Stelvio Park, to be traveled on foot or by mountain bike, not to mention the great climbs of Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo.

A dive into Bormio's past

Thanks to its central position along the trade routes of Northern and Southern Europe, the town enjoyed for a long time a strong autonomy and wealth that is still reflected in its historic center. In fact, it is easy to get lost among the streets and alleys where there are churches, palaces and old peasant houses. The past is also kept alive by the traditions that are repeated unchanged for centuries.

For those who want to spend a few days of vacation in absolute relaxation, Bormio also offers thermal waters thousands of years old that flow from nine sources to feed three facilities, Bagni Nuovi, Bagni Vecchi and Bormio Terme.

Without forgetting the flavors of the typical dishes of Valtellina: pizzoccheri, sciatt, bresaola, polenta, bisciöla and cheeses... are all peasant dishes of which the flavor has remained to this day. Everything is washed down with Valtellina wines, local beer, Braulio, Taneda and other local liquors.

The History of Bormio

To say the history of Bormio is millenary is an understatement.

The first evidence dates back to prehistoric times, when groups of hunters, during the summer months, bivouacked high in the mountains. The Roman era has given notoriety to the whole territory of the Magnificent Land: both Cassiodorus and Pliny the Elder mentioned for the first time the thermal waters praising their therapeutic value.

Bormio and the Middle Ages

During the first centuries of the year 1000 the town was lively and rich, also culturally, thanks to its strategic position in the middle of the Alps that allowed the passage of trade routes between the North and the South of Europe. Although long subjected to foreign powers, Bormio always managed to maintain a kind of independence and autonomy. The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were certainly the golden period of Bormio's history thanks to the development of culture and art as evidenced by the churches, palaces and works that are preserved within them.

The birth of tourism

In 1797 Bormio lost its autonomy and became part of the Cisalpine Republic following the history of the Italian state. The First World War saw Bormio and the Stelvio area projected directly into the front line: with a front of more than 40 km at an average height of 3,000 m, Italian and Austrian soldiers confronted each other bitterly. Even today it is still possible to visit the remains of camps and trenches or find war relics. From the second post-war period, Bormio experienced a flourishing tourist development, favored by a natural environment ideal for both winter and summer activities, as well as by the thermal resource.