A holiday in Bormio in autumn

Autumn has arrived and Bormio is tinged with fantastic colours, preparing for winter

With the arrival of autumn, the landscape of the Bormio valleys begins to turn yellow, orange and red. Plants begin to lose their leaves, in preparation for winter, and temperatures become cooler. It’s the ideal season to take a few walks, wrapped in a soft jacket, to photograph a magical landscape, to cuddle in the warm waters of the Bormio thermal baths, to savour the taste of Valtellina wines. And yes, between late September and early October is harvest time!

To admire the colours of autumn, numerous nature trails are recommended, to be tackled in hiking shoes or on a mountain bike. One route of hiking difficulty is the Reit footpath.

It is a dirt road that alternates flat stretches with ascents and is surrounded by a larch forest. The recommended starting point is the Pravasivo car park and along the way, in addition to the Campello stream and the “Planon dei Laresc”, you will find paths leading to the Bormio Botanical Garden or the famous Reit Cross.

If you want to see wild animals such as marmots or chamois, ibex and deer, we recommend Val Zebrù, which can be visited from June to October. The start is from Madonna dei Monti, a village in Valfurva, Niblogo car park. Here too, a dirt track accompanies the hiker along the Ponte delle Tre Croci, Baite di Campo and Baite di Cavallaro.

To plan your tailor-made excursion, you can create your own itinerary on the dedicated Valtellina Outdoor website. A satellite map suggests routes of different sporting intensity suitable for those who practice running, cycling, trekking, climbing and granfondo, as well as for those who want to walk via ferrata.

In addition to the Bormio area, you can visit Livigno, Tirano, Sondrio, Morbegno, Chiavenna and Valposchiavo. If you want to descend into Media and Bassa Valtellina, we recommend the Via dei Terrazzamenti, heritage that demonstrates the heroic viticulture of the Valtellina. In Tirano you will find the Scerscè wine estate, the Salis winery and the Plozza cellars.

In Bormio you will not find cellars that store wine, but cellars that create a precious bitter: the Braulio. Alpine herbs and ageing in oak barrels lead to a unique flavour.

Other typical liqueurs or digestives? Taneda, Genepy, Worms and an infinite variety of grappas. Guided tours of the Peloni family's cellars are available by appointment: from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 16:00 to 19:30. In low season, openings are on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.