Stelvio
Stelvio (Stilfs in German) is a small municipality in the upper Val Venosta (Vinschgau), in the province of Bolzano, that gives it...
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Stelvio now
The story
The story of Stelvio
The Municipality and the Stelvio Pass
The municipality of Stelvio, whose German name is Stilfs, lies in the upper Val Venosta (Vinschgau), at the foot of the pass that made its name famous worldwide. The Stelvio Pass, at 2,758 metres above sea level, is the highest motorable pass in Italy and one of the highest in the entire Alpine arc, surpassed only by the Col de l'Iseran in France. It connects Val Venosta with Lombardy's Valtellina, crossing a spectacular high-mountain landscape of glaciers, rocky ridges and glacial valleys. Built in the mid-nineteenth century to link the Austro-Hungarian Empire with Lombardy, the pass road remains one of Europe's most fascinating stretches of mountain highway, closed to traffic from November to May because of the heavy snowfall typical of this part of the Rhaetian Alps.
The 48 Hairpin Bends: Cycling and Motorcycling
The stretch climbing from Prato allo Stelvio up to the pass is famous worldwide for its 48 numbered hairpin bends, a relentless sequence of tight curves cut into the rock with a steep, spectacular gradient. This route has become an absolute legend of international cycling: the Stelvio Pass has repeatedly hosted iconic stages of the Giro d'Italia, often awarded the Cima Coppi, the prize for the highest point reached during the race. Every summer thousands of cycling enthusiasts from across Europe tackle the climb purely for the thrill of the challenge and the breathtaking panorama unfolding at every bend. The pass is equally beloved by motorcyclists and classic car enthusiasts, who regard it as one of the most beautiful and thrilling roads to drive anywhere in the Alps.
Stelvio National Park and the Ortles Group
Much of the municipal territory of Stelvio lies within Stelvio National Park, established in 1935 and considered the largest Alpine national park in Italy, stretching across South Tyrol, Trentino and Lombardy. The park protects an extraordinary natural environment, with coniferous forests, alpine pastures, glacial lakes and wildlife including ibex, chamois, golden eagles and, in recent years, the brown bear. Dominating the landscape is the majestic Ortles group, which at 3,905 metres is the highest peak in the entire protected area and one of the most imposing summits of the Eastern Alps. Its glacial walls and snow-capped ridges offer scenery of rare beauty, a destination for mountaineers and experienced hikers, while lower-altitude trails allow even less trained visitors to admire this pristine high-mountain environment up close.
Summer Skiing on the Stelvio Glacier
One of the most unusual features of the Stelvio Pass is the chance to ski in the middle of summer, thanks to the glacier that stretches near the pass. The Stelvio Glacier ski area is one of the very few in Europe offering snow-covered slopes between June and October, drawing skiers, national teams and World Cup athletes who train here on snow during the summer months. The lifts reach altitudes above 3,000 metres, giving skiers panoramas that stretch from the peaks of the Ortles group to the surrounding Rhaetian Alps. This unique combination of summer skiing, high altitude and glacial scenery makes the Stelvio Pass an unusual destination, capable of attracting both winter-sports enthusiasts and curious visitors seeking an out-of-season Alpine experience.
The Alpine Village and High-Altitude Nature
Away from the summer traffic of the pass, the old village of Stelvio retains an authentic Alpine character, with stone-and-timber houses, farmsteads scattered among the meadows and a parish church bearing witness to centuries of farming and mountain life. The village, predominantly German-speaking in language and culture, keeps alive traditions, rural architecture and a pace of life tied to the seasonal cycles of upper Val Venosta. Around the settlement, hiking trails lead toward high-altitude pastures, mountain huts, larch and conifer forests and, higher still, toward the glaciers and rocky ridges of Stelvio National Park. For mountain lovers, Stelvio is thus an ideal starting point both for motoring and cycling tourism linked to the famous pass, and for hiking and trekking in one of Italy's most unspoiled and spectacular Alpine environments.
Not to be missed
- The 48 hairpin bends of the Stelvio Pass, to drive, ride or cycle
- The Stelvio Glacier, for summer skiing at altitude
- The Ortles group (3,905 m), heart of Stelvio National Park
- Hiking trails among mountain huts and high-altitude pastures
- The old village of Stelvio (Stilfs), with its traditional stone-and-timber houses
To see
What to see in Stelvio
Routes · Trovido Route
