Nature and legends. In summer, the Valfurva is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors, discovering the wilderness of the Stelvio National Park. But it is also a place of history and of legendary Alpine passes, such as the Gavia.
Here are the top 5 things you have to see and do in the Valfurva.
Visit Santa Caterina Valfurva, the Alpine heart of Bormio
If you really want to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, Santa Caterina Valfurva is the ideal place for your holiday. The town lies at an altitude of 1,800 m and is notable because it is inside the Stelvio National Park, making it the perfect starting point for walks and bike rides. Staying in Santa Caterina Valfurva allows you to connect with the fundamental elements of nature, such as water, the wind, the sky, the rocks and, in winter, the deep snow. The ski runs in Santa Caterina Valfurva are famous and have hosted international races on the piste named after the most famous resident of the village, the great Italian skier Deborah Compagnoni.
In summer, there are many mountain paths starting in the village which lead you in discovery of the wooden huts scattered across the Alpine meadows and, above, the mighty glaciers.
A walk to the Forni glacier on the glaciological trail
A glacier is always an impressive and moving sight but getting up close to the foot of one, seeing the water pouring out of it, is an unmissable experience. In the Valfurva, the glaciological trail delivers this experience with the added bonus of a thrilling opportunity to cross two suspension bridges right in front of the largest glacier in the Stelvio National Park and the second biggest in Italy. Enjoy the spectacle!
By bike to the Gavia pass, an Alpine legend
One of the most special things in the Valfurva and the whole of the Bormio region is, without doubt, the Passo Gavia.
It has been used since Mediaeval times to connect the County of Bormio with the Venetian Republic and Austria. The pass, which is only open in summer, reaches a maximum altitude of 2,618 m and first entered the folklore of the Giro d’Italia in 1960. In several subsequent years, the Gavia Pass has marked the highest point of the race route. When you get to the summit of the pass, we recommend taking the time to enjoy the landscape and the lake just below the summit, or go for a walk across the high mountain meadows.
Visit to the beautiful little church in Teregua
Exactly how you imagine a mountain church to be: simple and humble but decorated inside with an important series of frescoes dating back to 1564 which will really amaze you.
Recently restored, the frescoes will strike a chord with you for their thoughtful and calming air and for their spirituality. Located in the village of Teregua at 1,375 m, it also has an unmissable wooden altarpiece.
The Tredici Cime traverse, one of the great mountaineering routes
If you are a keen mountaineer, this is a traverse that you absolutely have to try! Of course, you should hire a mountain guide but, trust us, it will all be worthwhile!
This is a classic mountaineering traverse, following the crest of the ridge across the 13 most symbolic summits of the Stelvio National Park, namely: Pizzo Tresero, Punta Pedranzini, Cima Dosegù, San Matteo, Monte Giumella, Punta Cadini, Rocca Santa Caterina, Cime di Pejo, Punta Taviela, Monte Vioz, Palon de La Mare, Monte Rosole and Cevedale.
