Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio
Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio is one of the most important national parks in Italy. It covers the entire Ortles band, where one of the largest glaciers in Europe is located (Ghicciaio dei Forni) and Passo di Stelvio, lower by only 12 meters from the highest pass in the Alps. Despite the growing tourism and the construction of many ski lifts, it is still an incredibly picturesque place. People also come here in the summer, to walk on high mountain trails, skiing off glaciers and trying to see deer, Deer, Elk, Chamois, Capricorns and golden eagles. One of the places, where it is easiest to observe game, is surrounded by rocks the smallest of the valleys of Val Żebru (to the side from Valfurva; directions from Bormio).
Buses run to different points in the park, but it's best to go to SILANDRO first (SCHLANDERS), where the tourist information centre is located.
Valley
The foot of the Ortles chain is crossed by three main valleys: Val d'Ultimo (Ultental), Val Martello (Martelltal) and Val di Solda (Suldental). Val d'Ultimo (Ultental) has been for centuries a traditional place of refuge in this area known from mountain wars. Isolated from the world, was opened for tourism only in this century. Currently, buses from Merano reach the village of SANKT GERTRUD. On the lower slopes there are lush green pastures and ancient larches grow, but the main attraction of this valley is located higher. Namely, through the moorland dotted with rubble, the path leads to Rifugio Canziani (Hohster Hiitte; 3 Hours; no possibility of accommodation), surrounded by picturesque glaciers and the peaks of the Zufrittspitze. Less seasoned tourists can stay in the village and go for shorter walks in the valley. One of several local hotels is Innerlahn (•0473/79167), where for bed and breakfast you pay from 11 000 L and above.
Further west lies Val Martello (Martelltal). It's just as beautiful, and its lower slopes are overgrown with birches. You can get to the valley by bus from Merano to Silandro, then another bus from Silandro, next to the ruins of Castel Montani and the falcon farm in MORTER, to Val Martello. In the depths of the valley lies PARADISO DEL CEVEDALE (2088 m.), one of the busiest bases for mountaineers and cross-country skiers. Nearby is Monte Cevedale (Zufall Spitze; 3757 m.) and Corsi huts (Zufall Hutte, 2265 m.) and Casati (3266 m.). Other trails lead through the passes to Val d'Ultimo and Val di Solda.
One of the main roads through the park is the fearsome, but an extremely picturesque route leading through Passo di Stekio (2758 m.) to Bormio. There are buses from Merano to the pass (the pass is open VI-X), passing Val di Solda on the way. Located at the end of this last valley, the village of SOLDA is another important mountaineering center, but to walk some of the trails you do not need a great tourist experience.An easier route leads to the Rifugio Citta di Milano (Schaubach Hiitte-, 2581 m.; • 0473/75402), and more difficult to Rifugio Payer (• 0473/75410), from where you can watch great views and start climbing Ortles (3905 m.). Passo di Stelvio was the border between Italy, Switzerland and Austria up to a year 1918 and therefore located 15 minutes from the rock pass, called Pizzo Garibaldi (Dreisprachenspitze) is a symbolic meeting place for the three main languages of the area. From Passo di Stelvio the road descends to Bormio, writhing with dangerously inclined serpentines.