According to aviationopedia, the mountain-climatic thermal resort of Bormio is located in the center of the Alta Valtellina ski region in northern Italy, which also includes ski resorts such as Santa Caterina, Valdidentro and Livigno. It is located at an altitude of 1225 m at the foot of Mount Cima Bianca (3012 m) on the border of the Stelvio National Park, 200 km northeast of Milan. In addition to the excellent ski slopes, Bormio is famous for its mild climate, dense forests and thermal springs surrounding it. All this makes Bormio one of the most popular mountain resorts in Italy. Bormio was founded by the Romans and, thanks to its thermal springs, immediately became a popular holiday destination for the Roman nobility. Rapid construction unfolded in Bormio on the eve of the 1985 Alpine Skiing World Championships, because the resort was chosen as the venue.
In terms of elevation difference (1790 m), Bormio occupies a leading position among other ski centers in Italy, the highest point of the resort is at an altitude of 3012 m. The total length of marked trails is 50 km (easy trails – 35%, medium difficulty – 45%, difficult – 20%), the number of lifts – 24. The longest trail has a length of 6 km. In the lower part of the resort are the areas “Bormio-2000” and “Chiuk”, which are perfect for beginner skiers and even children. Above, the legendary 4 km long Stelvio Cup track and long runs such as Bambi al Sole and Stela Ampina start. Stela Ampina originates at the top of Cima Bianca, where you can also practice off-piste skiing. In Bormio, skiing is not only in winter, but also in summer. Opportunities for summer skiing are in the area of the Stelvio Pass (2758-3420 m), located northeast of Bormio, which leads to the national park of the same name. This is the largest area for summer skiing in all of Italy. Here is the highest cross-country skiing track in the region (altitude 3200 m) – Sasso Rotondo. Unfortunately, you can only ski on the ski slopes of the pass in the summer. In addition, in the summer, the pass becomes a favorite place for cyclists to ride. In addition to the ski slopes, Bormio has 12 km of cross-country ski trails. Snowboarders will definitely like the Bormio snow park, located near the Alpin Star track. The park is divided into 10 zones with different levels of difficulty.
The infrastructure of the resort includes equipment rentals, ski schools, hotels and guest houses, restaurants, bars, a nightclub, a sports center, a swimming pool and an indoor ice rink. Do not forget that Bormio is also a thermal resort. In the very center of the city is located the Bormio Terme thermal complex, based on 9 local mineral water springs, which have been known since the time of the Romans from the 1st century BC. Thermal waters of Bormio have outlet temperatures from +37 to +43 degrees (depending on the time of year) and belong to sulfate-bicarbonate-alkaline radon waters. With their help, they carry out the prevention of diseases of the respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, gynecological and skin diseases. The Bormio Terme thermal complex offers the following treatments for vacationers: baths, inhalations, irrigation, aerosol therapy, aromatherapy, mud wraps and massages. There are swimming pools for adults and children, saunas, Turkish baths, a beauty salon, bars and a restaurant.
A few kilometers north of Bormio is the thermal complex of Bagni di Bormio., which includes the thermal centers of Bagni Vecchia (“Old Baths”) and Bagni Nuovi (“New Baths”), also operating on the basis of Bormio mineral water springs. Even under the Romans, baths were equipped in these places. In the Middle Ages, representatives of noble families and many famous people rested here, among them Leonardo da Vinci, who visited the baths in 1493. Today, this ancient part of the thermal complex is called Bagni Vecchii. Bagni Vecchia consists of 6 zones: Roman baths (thermal baths that were built inside a natural cave in the 1st century BC), medieval baths, imperial baths (Italian king Victor Emmanuel III rested here), ducal baths (built in 19 century for the treatment of family members of the ruling dynasty of Austria-Hungary), a thermal cave (a unique natural sauna that has no analogues in the world: inside the cave there are thermal springs with a temperature of up to +43 degrees, which saturate the air with vapors) and an outdoor pool with a beautiful panoramic view of Valtellina valley. ” grotto of Neptune, where cleansing and toning procedures are offered, baths of Jupiter (hydrotherapy zone) and baths of Hercules (relaxation zone). In addition to a variety of thermal baths, pools, saunas and baths, Bagni di Bormio offers whirlpool baths, massage waterfalls and showers, ice cascades used to achieve the effect of a contrast shower, color therapy, aromatherapy and music therapy rooms, relaxation rooms, as well as two centers beauty, where all kinds of massages and aesthetic procedures are performed. Many objects of the thermal complex are located on the territory used to achieve the effect of a contrast shower, rooms for color therapy, aromatherapy and music therapy, relaxation rooms, as well as two beauty centers where all kinds of massages and aesthetic procedures are performed. Many objects of the thermal complex are located on the territory hotels, which makes them easily accessible to vacationers. In addition, the resort hotels are surrounded by the protected pine forest “Parco Monumentale”, through which there are 8 km of hiking trails.
Bormio is home to the Rezia Alpine Botanical Garden, which is part of the Stelvio National Park. The garden was founded in 1980 in order to represent not only the entire vegetation of the national park, but also the vegetation of the Andes, the Himalayas, the Pyrenees, the Apennines, the Caucasus, the Arctic and the Antarctic. The best time to send here is between June and July when most of the plants are in bloom.
As for the Stelvio National Park, it is the largest in Italy.. It covers an area of 1307 sq. km, where the majestic glaciers of the mountains Ortles (3905 m) and Cevedale (3769 m), picturesque valleys, dense forests, alpine lakes and rivers are located. Brown bears, red deer, chamois, roe deer, foxes, ermines, squirrels, marmots, badgers, ferrets and hares live in the park, as well as bearded vultures, golden eagles, buzzards, owls, partridges and pheasants. Tourists are offered a wide variety of hiking trails, including educational botanical trails. In the Val di Rabbi you can see a unique forest area consisting of 23 “monumental” larches several hundred years old. An interesting wildlife center is Runcal, where you can watch deer and roe deer. In addition to its natural wealth, the park also offers visitors historical sights: the village-cheese factory of Casel di Sombrabbi.
