Summer in Valfurva is all about the great outdoors. From the untouched wilderness of the Stelvio National Park to famed mountain passes like the Gavia, via a little local history.
If you're looking for things to do in and around Santa Caterina Valfurva, these are some of our favourites.
Visit Santa Caterina Valfurva
This quintessential Alpine village nestled in the Stelvio National Park lies at an altitude of 1,800 m. Famous for its ski slopes and as the birthplace of Olympic skier Deborah Compagnoni, Santa Caterina is a natural starting point for hiking and biking adventures, with numerous trails passing traditional wooden baite (mountain cabins) and, a little further up, perennial glaciers.
Hike to the Forni Glacier on the glacier trail
Valfurva's glacier trail lets you get up close to the mouth of the glacier where the meltwater flows from.
The upper trail leads to the Forni Glacier, the largest in the Stelvio National Park and the second largest in Italy, via two small Tibetan suspension bridges.
Pedal up the Gavia Pass
The Gavia Pass, in use since the Middle Ages when it connected the Republic of Venice with Austria via Bormio, is only open over the summer. Sitting at an altitude of 2,618 m, in 1960 the pass featured in the Giro d'Italia for the first time and has been the Cima Coppi (the highest point in the race that year) on several occasions.
If you plan to join the many cyclists who tackle the pass from the Bormio side, once you reach the top, stop and take in the stunning views and nearby lake.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, Teregua
This tiny Alpine church with its unusual gabled bell tower, is located in the village of Teregua at 1,375 m and dates back to the 16th century. Simple and understated, this haven of peace and spirituality houses important works of art, including a beautiful series of frescoes on the presbytery and apse from 1564. The Holy Trinity features heavily; in the lunette on the façade, the 16th century altarpiece and on the ceiling.
The Tredici Cime traverse
A classic mountaineering route along the ridgeline connecting the 13 most important peaks of the Stelvio National Park: Pizzo Tresero, Punta Pedranzini, Cima Dosegù, Cima San Matteo, Monte Giumella, Punta Cadini, Rocca Santa Caterina, Cime di Pejo, Punta Taviela, Monte Vioz, Palon de La Mare, Monte Rosole, and Cevedale.
