Martello
Martello (in tedesco Martell) è un comune della provincia di Bolzano che occupa quasi per intero l'omonima Val Martello, valle lat...
Обновлено 17 июля 2026
В этом сезоне · июль · Лето
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История Martello
Martello in the Val Martello, at the Heart of the Stelvio National Park
Martello occupies the upper part of the Val Martello, a side valley of the Val Venosta that branches off near Laces and climbs for about thirty kilometres toward the glaciers of the Ortles-Cevedale group, remaining almost entirely enclosed within the Stelvio National Park. The municipal territory, which largely coincides with the valley floor and the slopes that frame it, is crossed by the Plima torrent, fed by glacial meltwater, and comprises a main settlement plus six hamlets, among them Ennewasser, Gand, Hintermartell, Meiern, Sonnenberg and Waldberg, scattered between 1,300 and 1,700 metres of altitude. This position, closed in by the Ortles-Cevedale walls upstream and the wooded slopes of the Val Venosta downstream, made Martello an isolated, self-sufficient community for centuries; today it is a privileged gateway to one of the best preserved corners of the eastern Alps, where the Stelvio National Park protects woods, peat bogs, high pastures and the glaciated peaks that close the horizon to the south.
The Strawberries of Martello, Grown up to 1,800 Metres
Martello owes much of its fame to high-altitude strawberry growing, a speciality that here reaches record levels: the fields climb as high as 1,800 metres above sea level, making the valley one of the highest places in Europe where the fruit is cultivated on a commercial scale. The cool climate and the sharp day-night temperature swings typical of the mountains concentrate sugars and aromas, producing strawberries that are particularly fragrant and sweet despite the altitude. Cultivation, largely run by small family farms grouped in the local cooperative, exploits the seasonal shift compared with the valley floor: when the strawberry season has already ended elsewhere, in Martello the fruit is still ripening, guaranteeing a late harvest that feeds a much appreciated niche market. It is no surprise the valley is known locally as the valley of strawberries, and the crop, alongside raspberries, remains one of the most distinctive strands of the municipality's farming economy.
Lake Gioveretto and the Peaks of the Cevedale
Climbing the Val Martello beyond the last farmsteads, one reaches Lake Gioveretto, in German Zufrittsee, an artificial reservoir at about 1,850 metres created by damming the Plima torrent for hydroelectric power generation. Its turquoise waters, fed by the glaciers above, mirror the walls of the Zufallspitze, the highest point of the municipal territory at 3,757 metres, and of Monte Cevedale, the emblematic peak of the Ortles-Cevedale group that marks the border with Lombardy and Trentino. From the car park just beyond the lake, trails set off toward the high-altitude refuges, such as Rifugio Martello at 2,610 metres and Rifugio Nino Corsi at 2,264 metres, open in the warm season and a base for glacier hikes and alpine climbs. The landscape, amid moraines, permanent snowfields and glacial pools, is among the most spectacular in the entire Stelvio National Park and forms the natural destination for anyone travelling the valley to its end.
Nature, Glaciers and Sport in the Val Martello
The entire municipality of Martello lies within the Stelvio National Park, one of Italy's largest and oldest national parks, established in 1935 and now covering more than 130,000 hectares across Lombardy, Trentino and South Tyrol. Between 1,000 and 2,000 metres, Norway spruce woods prevail, giving way higher up to larch and Swiss stone pine up to the tree line, above which pastures, scree slopes and the permanent glaciers of the Ortles-Cevedale group take over. Alpine wildlife is well represented, with red deer, chamois, ibex, marmots and birds of prey such as the golden eagle and the bearded vulture, which has returned thanks to reintroduction projects. The valley hosts the park's visitor centre, Culturamartell, telling visitors about the natural and human history of the Val Martello. In winter the valley is a reference point for cross-country skiing thanks to the biathlon centre, with certified trails that have hosted international junior competitions; in summer the same network of paths, over 200 kilometres in total, becomes prime territory for trekking and mountaineering.
History and Experiences in Martello
The earliest written records of Martello date back to 1280, but settlement of the valley is older, with roots in the 11th century, when the first families settled along the Plima to make use of pastures and woods. Documents from 1448 also attest to mining activity in the area, a sign of a mountain economy historically more diversified than farming alone. Isolated for centuries at the head of its side valley, Martello has preserved an almost entirely German-speaking community, which keeps traditions alive, including patronal festivities tied to Saint Walburga, and a rural economy based on farmsteads, alpine huts and small family farms. In recent decades tourism has grown alongside farming: the valley hosted the 2007 Junior Biathlon World Championships and, in 2014, a stage finish of the Giro d'Italia, won by Colombian rider Nairo Quintana. Today visitors can alternate walks among farmsteads and hamlets, tastings of strawberries and local dairy products, and hikes toward Lake Gioveretto and the high-altitude refuges.
Not to be missed
- Lake Gioveretto (Zufrittsee) and the peaks of the Cevedale
- Tasting the strawberries of Martello, grown up to 1,800 metres
- The Stelvio National Park visitor centre, Culturamartell
- A hike to the Martello and Nino Corsi refuges among glaciers and moraines
- The biathlon centre's trails for cross-country skiing and winter walks
Что посмотреть
Достопримечательности Martello
Пути · Trovido Route
Маршруты в Martello
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