Untamed nature and exceptional hospitality in the Stelvio National Park

Covering an area of over 1,300 square kilometres spread across South Tyrol, Trentino and Lombardy, the Stelvio National Park is one of Europe’s largest protected areas. On the South Tyrolean side, it covers approximately 530 square kilometres and is home to an extraordinary variety of habitats, ranging from the valley floors up to the 3,905 metres of Ortles, South Tyrol’s highest peak. Coniferous forests, high-altitude pastures, glaciers and valleys shape a landscape to be explored with respect and in silence as you follow its paths and hiking trails. The park is also one of Italy’s leading centres for the conservation of Alpine biodiversity (with over 260 species of vertebrates present) and runs important programmes to monitor Alpine wildlife. Among the animals under observation is the bearded vulture, the large bearded vulture that disappeared from the Alps at the start of the 20th century and has returned to breed thanks to an international reintroduction project: it was in the Stelvio National Park itself, in 1997, that the first flight of a specimen born in the wild on Italian soil was recorded. In the heart of this landscape, in Trafoi, the family of the legendary Gustav Thöni has recently completed the refurbishment of the Hotel Bella Vista, which has been extended as part of a project designed by Matteo Thun. The new wing of this historic hotel was conceived to harmonise with the landscape, maintaining an unobstructed view of Ortles and the surrounding mountains, and places particular emphasis on the wellness area, featuring a ‘natur-arena’ covering approximately 5,000 square metres. The panoramic swimming pools, saunas and spaces dedicated to yoga and treatments complement the range of outdoor activities on offer, notably including hikes through the Trafoi canyon, a narrow, picturesque valley through which flows one of the streams originating from the Madatsch, breathing exercises and the hike through the woods to the Forcola mountain hut, from where one can enjoy a spectacular view of the Ortles massif. Finally, another delight offered by the Hotel Bellavsta is its cuisine, which showcases seasonal produce and wild herbs from the local area.

https://www.nationalpark-stelvio.it/it/parco-nazionale-dello-stelvio.html

https://www.bella-vista.it/