Meran/Merano
- Meran and surroundings - Merano is famous for its Terme
di Merano, a complex of therapeutic baths and treatments. The town
neighbours the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio and the spectacular Ortles
mountain range. Some 6 km east of town, the Funivia Val di Nova cable
car carries winter sports enthusiasts up to Piffling in Merano 2000,
a small ski station.
The Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio offers fantastic walking possibilities
at low altitudes in the pretty valleys of Val d’Ultimo, Val
Martello and Val di Solda, and at high altitudes on spectacular peaks
such as the Gran Zebrù, Cevedale and the Ortles, all part of
the Ortles range. The glaciers permit year-round skiing and there
are well-serviced runs at Solda and the Passo dello Stelvio (2757
m); the latter is the second highest pass in the Alps. Immediately
south of the Passo dello Stelvio is the ski resort of Bormio, host
to the 2005 Alpine World Skiing Championships. With the highest slopes
at 3012 m, good snow is assured season-long.
The village of Solda, at the head of the Val di Solda, is a small
ski resort and a base for walkers and climbers in summer.
The Val Martello is a good choice for low-altitude walks, with spectacular
views of some of the park’s high peaks. It is a popular base
for tackling the glaciers. In winter there is excellent cross-country
skiing, and climbers can crawl up the valley’s frozen waterfalls
from January to March.