Stelvio, the main village of the extensive municipality between Mt. Ortles and the Stelvio Pass, is steeply enthroned on the sunny slope
Image gallery: Stelvio village
On the way towards the Stelvio Pass, you will first see several small houses that were built up the slope at the component locality of Ponte Stelvio, and are now gathered around the St. Ulrich Church. The settlement was erected by miners already in the 15th century to mine for iron ore on the Ortles. The Rio Solda stream flows past at the bottom of the village. These winding villages can often be found in the Val Venosta valley, here the steep slope makes it even more interesting to visit: Like terraces, the individual alleys with their buildings lead further and further up the slope.
It is said that in Stelvio "even the hens wear crampons". The fact is that Stelvio village (Stilfs Dorf) was laid out in a star shape around its springs, because eight fountains were created. In the past, drinking water was collected there, the laundry was washed and the cattle watered, but today it is mainly used to water the gardens. The parish church can also be found at one of these springs. Above it tower the mountain giants of Monte della Guardia and Monte Cavallaccio on the border to Switzerland. The red deer, which live in large numbers in the Stelvio National Park and are rarely seen, can be observed in two enclosures in the municipality. One is a little further away at the pilgrimage site of the Sacred Three Fountains of Trafoi, the other in Fragges near Stelvio.
A recommended hike starts at the enclosure of Fragges, which leads in two hours via the Prato Alpine Pasture (Prader Alm) to the Forcola Mountain Hut (Furkelhütte) at 2,153 m a.s.l. This building in the Ortles Alps offers a magnificent panorama over the glacier - you can also take the Trafoi Chairlift back. In winter, it becomes a beautiful winter hike in a landscape covered in deep snow. Another tour follows ancient grocers' paths and sections of the historic Alpine crossing route: It is the Archaic Trail from Prato allo Stelvio to Stelvio, a hike across the valley floor, past old hamlets and interesting information boards. The view on the Ortles Group accompanies you.
