Thermal baths of Bormio

They are known as the "Baths of Bormio" but they are actually found on the territory of the Comune of Valdidentro; it is certain that the therapeutic properties of the thermal waters of the Baths were already known in the pre-roman period: Pliniana Source, Cassiodora Source, Bagni Romani (Roman Baths) are toponyms that however show the interest that the scholars of ancient times may have had in these hot water that gush out of the living rock at a constant temperature of over 40° degrees. Many hospices started to appear in proximity of the sources both for those seeking cures and for travellers who needed shelter before facing the long climb towards the Umbrail Pass and the Engadine

along the valley leading to the Stelvio Pass, today it is the highest carriage road in Europe.

St. Martin Church, which still stands near the Bagni Vecchi of Bormio (Old Baths), was actually built before the 13th century, it is unspoken evidence of the evolution regarding the story of Alta Valtellina. The Bagni Vecchi of Bormio were later converted into lodgings for very important visitors who came to Alta Valtellina. In 1493 one such visitor was Leonardo da Vinci "At the top end of Valtellina there is the mountain of Bormi, always incredibly covered in snow. There are ermines; In Bormi there are the Baths". In 1496 Lodovico il Moro was a guest at the Baths of Bormio.

The Baths were not used for tourism until 1823 when the Stelvio road was made by the Austro-Hungarian Empire to connect the Lombardy Region with Tyrol. It was during this period that the still standing hotel services were later increased. Thermal treatments and mud-baths first started to appear on the advertisment posters of the Baths in the 19th century.

From May to October very important families came to the Baths, some families even came from over the Alps. The singularity of these Baths is the natural "sweating Grotto"; It penetrates into the living rock for more than 50 metres, passing through "Paradiso" (Paradise), "Purgatorio" (Purgatory) and Inferno. According to the degree of heat and steam, the temperature keeps increasing to the end of the grotto. At this point a steaming cascade of thermal water gushes from the rock at over 50°C. The Sweating Grotto: it is the most fascinating and healthy natural sauna in the World.

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Valdidentro - a short distance from Bormio and Livigno

Valdidentro includes four villages, Premadio, Pedenosso, Isolaccia and Semogo, located between 1250 and 1500 metres above sea level along the road that leads from Bormio to Livigno. The permanently snow capped Cima Piazzi Glacier dominates over Valdidentro, contrasting with the clear blue sky and underlying centuries-old green woods with its pine and fir trees framing the Stelvio National Park. The Valdidentro has a full history; it was crossed by the Imperial Way, which linked the Dukedom of Milan and the Republic of Venice to Engadine and the North of the Alps. The valley has also deep-seated traditions deriving from a millenary population who cultivated with the utmost respect the culture belonging to their mountains.
The Valdidentro valleys has an abundance of water supplied by rivers, streams, cascades, alpine lakes and artificial basins in Cancano. The water from Cancano furnishes the hydro-electric network system for the production of energy for Milan and the Lombardy Region.

Valdidentro is characterized by a geological structure of 9 hot spring water sources that gush from living rock at a steady temperature of 40°C found at the Baths of Bagni Vecchi. These Baths were already mentioned by Pliny and Cassiodoro. The Fonte Pliniana (Pliny Source), the Bagni Romani (Roman Baths) and the Sweating Grotto have been dedicated to them.

Valdidentro stands for a holiday in the sign of tranquillity, where, within short distance it is also possible to enjoy the tourist and sports facilities available including the facilities provided by Alta Valtellina, Bormio, Livigno, Santa Caterina and Stelvio. Stelvio is the most important summer skiing training ground in the World.

People have lived in this vast territory since the eleventh century as it was the passage between Bormio and Livigno, between Bormio and Engadine, it was the last bulwark between the South and the North of the Alps. This territory expanded due to the pastoral-agricultural economy typical of alpine tradition marked by the rhythm of summer mountain grazing - village, alpine pastures, summer pasturing in the mountains - in search of grass, the only food available for cattle, and also thanks to the commercial trade between the Dukedom of Milan and the Republic of Venice with the German Empire.

The territory has maintained the signs of the past: wooden and stone houses with attached stable, these being the ordinary farmers' houses; then there were the wooden summer mountain huts on the outskirts of the woods and surrounded by alpine pastures; the further up the mountain beyond the woods we have stone huts surrounded by summer pasture completely without plant life. Even today there is evidence of the cultural traditions of the mountain.

We can also see the landmarks of commercial and military communications used in those days: the Pedenosso Church that stands isolated on a rock like a fortress and further up we find the Fraele Towers located on the narrow passage way, overlooking Valdidentro and leading to San Giacomo Valley.

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Santa Caterina Valfurva - surrounded by nature

Santa Caterina nestles in the basin that opens out between Mount Tresero, at the far southern end of the Ortles-Cevedale range, and the Confinale, a mountain from which one can gaze out over an uninterrupted series of Alpine peaks that stretch as far as the eye can see. The houses stand close to one another, a charming collection in which houses in wood alternate with stone roofs, and the slopes around the town are covered with a thick forest of conifers. Santa Caterina Valfurva still has many examples of rural architecture, with buildings made entirely of wood going back to the 16^ century and more recent constructions of stone and wood or made entirely of stone.

There are more than 500 examples of these "Alpine herdsman's cottages" in Valfurva alone. Santa Caterina is situated in the heart of the Stelvio National Park, where respect for nature becomes a chance to enjoy the myriad nuances in each season of the year. During the summer, visitors can try different kinds of excursions: from walks along paths through the woods to alpine climbs up towards the peaks of the Ortles-Cevedale range.

The Forni glacier can be admired by visitors in all its majesty and unchanging grandeur: a white, apparently immobile ocean. The glacier extends for about 13 km square into the valley of the same name north of Santa Caterina Valfurva and crossing it is necessary on many climbs. For its length, and for the peculiarities of its landscape and events in its history, it has been one of the most visited and studied glaciers in the Alps since the days of the Abbot Stoppani, who dedicated a chapter of his Bel Paese to it.

Winter comes early to Santa Caterina; its mantle of snow transforms the meadows into ski runs and attracts skiing enthusiasts onto the slopes that seem to be specially designed by nature to enhance the skiers' technical qualities. This ski-area has already hosted important races for the World Ski Championships in recent years and it features a great variety of scenary: from the ski slopes going through the woods, to the steep slope near the peaks, and to the gentle descent from an altitude of more than 2.700 metres at its highest point, down to the valley, with the sun that accompanies the skiers as far as the town in spring.

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The Stelvio National Park

The Stelvio National Park with its 135.000 hectares of land was instituted in 1935 and is the largest protected area in Italy: it is a true refuge for Alpine Nature. It extends across the Provinces of Sondrio, Bolzano and Trento, covering an extremely varied terrain that goes from 650 metres to the Ortles' almost 4000 metres. There are more than 110 glaciers within the Park, the largest one being the Forni, in Valfurva. However, the considerable variety of ecosystems is the greatest reason for the immense charm of this area full of springs and pine forests, enlivened by the wide valleys full of streams and small lakes.

There are numerous fauna species which have their habitat in the Park: they vary from the large ungulates - deer, roe deer, chamois and ibex - to the foxes, stoats, marmots, squirrels and hares. The presence of ornithological species that are not easily seen elsewhere merits a special mention: the golden eagle, the kestrel, the eagle owl

and above all, the majestic gipeto, a unique specimen of vulture that still lives in the Alps and can be recognised by its considerable size which makes it the largest bird in the Alps (it reaches a lenght of 115 cm. with a wingspan of 285 cm.). Then there are more than 2000 protected species of flowers that can be admired in the Park. There are almost 250 km. of nature trails including valley and higher pathways, making Alta Valtellina an ideal place for excursions, either on foot or on bicycles. It is not a coincidence that another locality in Valtellina, Livigno, hosted the World Mountain Bike Championship in the summer of 2005.

This sport began in the nineties and involves athletes running up the mountains; into this context, as the event is a good example of modern ecologism that shuns ideological temptations and instead, tries to find a balance between safeguarding the environmental resources and planning sustainable development that does not alter Nature's delicate equilibrium. Behind this challenge there is the shared knowledge that making the most of the Alpine environment is a essential condition for ensuring the future of the mountains and their communities.

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Summer skiing - Stelvio

An exclusive landmark for summer skiing and snowboard enthusiasts, Pirovano is the only ski school to earn the prestigious title of "Ski University". It was founded in 1949 by Giuseppe Pirovano and Giuliana Boerchio, and since 1985 it has belonged to the Banca Popolare di Sondrio Banking Group, whose branch on the Stelvio Pass is the highest in Europe.

Summer skiing is a thrilling adventure, a dynamic experience, an ideal opportunity to refine your art on the skis in preparation for an outstanding performance on the winter slopes. Pirovano Ski School runs courses from May to November against the magical backdrop of Stelvio National Park, where you can ski in harmony with nature, in an enchanting setting enveloped in the silence of an altitude of 3000 metres.

Pirovano's highly qualified ski teachers are noted for their undisputed professionalism at both beginner and competitive levels. In the paradise of summer skiing, you can watch world champions train or throw yourself into full-time sport. Before a breathtaking panorama, one of the most glorious of the Alps, you can learn the secrets of other sports on the great glaciers of Stelvio: expert trainers teach archery, mountain biking and spinning, or accompany trekkers on thrilling excursions at high altitude along routes full of relics from the First World War.

The fitness area, wellness centre, swimming pool and panoramic restaurant "terrazza" are just a few of the exclusive facilities offered by Hotel Quarto, where its comfortable, cosy interiors and refined local cuisine will make your stay truly memorable. Sport, relaxation and the great outdoors are winning ingredients for a healthy holiday surrounded by nature.

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