A relaxing weekend in Bormio

Bormio is a nice town situated in the province of Sondrio, in Lombardy, located in the upper part of the well-known Valtellina. Bormio, immersed in the Stelvio National Park , is a very popular tourist destination, both in winter and summer, as it offers numerous spas, elaborate ski slopes, enchanting landscapes and excellent local cuisine.

Thanks to its central location along the trade routes between Northern and Southern Europe, Bormio has enjoyed a long, strong autonomy throughout its rich history and its past is kept alive through the local traditions and have remained unchanged for centuries reflectes in its narrow cobbled streets and alleyways,in churches, palaces, and old village houses, hundreds of years old. Bormio is characterized by the presence of beautiful religious buildings; first of all, it is the Chiesa Colleggiata, a church, of medieval origin dedicated to the San Gervasio and San Protasio. Another place of interest is the Chiesa del Sassello, built in 1398 and consecrated in 1405. During your trip in Bormio, we recommend visiting also the Torre della Bajona, or Torre delle Ore; Its name "Bajona" is due to its huge bell, that once was there. The popular meetings were convened by the sound of this huge bell that, given the size, could be felt at a great distance even in the valleys. Over time the Church has undergone several restorations, in addition the two bells today would derive from the fusion of the ancient and legendary bell. Closed to the Torre della Bajona you see the symbol of the city, the Kuerc, dated back to the fourteenth century, in the full period of the Bormio autonomy, and was the place where once the meetings took place and justice was administered. A second tower is the Torre Alberti dates back to the 13th century, is 24 meters high and is made entirely of gray stone. The corners of the tower are characterized by large blocks of angles from the typical rustication. Among other points of interest in Bormio, it is worth visiting the Civic Museum, hosted by Palazzo De Simoni, inside there are ancient furniture, furnishings, paintings, statues and wooden altars , paintings and portraits from churches and noble palaces and works of popular art. The Naturalistic Mineralogical Museum instead preserves a rich and precious collection of Valtellina crystals and fossils and exhibits various dioramas with specimens of local fauna.

After all this wandering, we suggest you to dedicate the rest of your time in Valtellina to a relaxing break, enjoying the thermal waters of the three thermal establishments of Bormio, which among other things are among the most exclusive in all of Europe. The thermal waters of Bormio were already known and appreciated in Roman times. These thermo-mineral springs are located at the foot of the Mount Reit and come out at a temperature between 36° and 43°. Obviously they are particularly recommended for therapeutic purposes, for forms of uricernia, circulatory problems, diabetics, joint traumas. One of the springs, the Cinglaccia, feeds the Bormio Terme plant which is located in the center of the town; while two others feed the Bagni Vecchi and Bagni Nuovi. In the course of the epochs, historical figures such as Garibaldi, Vittorio Emanuele III, Queen Teodolinda and Ludovico il Moro have immerged there.

The traditional cuisine of Bormio is excellent, as in all the Valtellina area, and it is characterized by simple and genuine recipes with a large use of butter, cheese and potatoes. The most famous dishes are the pizzoccheri, the sciatt and the polenta taragna, for meats the bresaola and the slinzega. Excellent are the cheeses: the scimudin and the bitto; for dessert the sweet Bisciola is a must, best if accompanied by a good glass of local wine.

My tip:

Bormio is full of delicious traditional restaurants, but my favourite one is the Ristorante Al Filo for its special romantic atmosphere.

Bormio Terme spa

Via Stelvio 14, 23032 Bormio

QC Terme Bagni di Bormio

Via Bagni Nuovi 7, Valdidentro,, 23038 Bormio

Pozza di Leonardo - Bormio

23032 Bormio, Province of Sondrio, Italy

Parco nazionale dello Stelvio

Frazione Piazzola, 38020 Rabbi TN, Italie

Chiesa Collegiata - Bormio

23032 Bormio, Province of Sondrio, Italy

Chiesa del Sassello - Bormio

23032 Bormio, Province of Sondrio, Italy

Museo Civico di Bormio

23032 Bormio, Province of Sondrio, Italy

Piazza del Kuerc - Bormio

Piazza Cavour, 23032 Bormio SO, Italy

Museo mineralogico e naturalistico di Bormio

23032 Bormio, Province of Sondrio, Italy