Known as Europe’s Little Tibet, Livigno is an established
high-altitude destination (the second highest in Italy), sat just metres from
the border with Switzerland, with virtually everything to satisfy sports lovers
and shoppers alike.
Livigno could be content to rest on its laurels and promote
its altitude as the sole reason to visit. After all, science has proven that a
stint at altitude (Livigno fits the bill at 1,816 metres above sea level)
lowers blood pressure, heart rate and improves the quality of your sleep. But
science alone isn’t enough for this unique spot…
It’s easy to lose count when it comes to listing Livigno’s
outdoor activities: cycling, hiking, climbing, aquatic sports
like canoeing and kayaking, as well as snow sports including Alpine skiing,
backcountry, ski mountaineering, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and
snowshoeing all winter long.
Lined with 600 km of marked trails, the landscape is there to be explored.
Thanks to the presence of two up-lift facilities – Mottolino and Carosello –
accessibility is not an issue either. For added height, check out the natural
rock climbing ‘gym’ or head to the fun-filled Larix Park to get airtime
amongst the trees. For golfers, Livigno’s golf training area is the
highest of its kind in Europe.
Shifting indoors, Aquagranda Active You caters not
only for your core and cardio, but also looks after your wellness wants in its
spa. The ‘European City of Sport’ title isn’t a term thrown around lightly, and
Livigno truly fits the bill as a veritable high altitude outdoor gym,
attracting athletes and enthusiasts from across the globe. Whatever your sport,
you won’t want to leave this scenic spot.
When you want to take the adrenaline down a notch, head to the lake to soak up
the sunshine and fill your lungs with Livigno’s invigoratingly crisp air, even
at the height of summer.
Like to combine an authentic mountain lifestyle with a touch
of shopping? With countless boutiques and duty-free shops lining the
streets set to a backdrop of majestic mountains, Livigno unites these two
elements like nowhere else. Amongst the maze of streets with rustic homes and
wooden balconies swathed in vibrantly coloured flowers, this shopping hotspot
brims with energy and a distinctly cosmopolitan vibe.
But as chic and fun-loving as Livigno is, this destination, found at the far
end of Valtellina, has by no means forgotten its farming roots. A glance at the
packed events calendar confirms that it strongly upholds its Alpine identity,
as does a visit to the Mus! (the Museum of Livigno and Trepalle), and a
pit-stop at the Latteria, a dairy farm cooperative that still functions today
and is home to an exhibition recounting local traditions.
Info: www.livigno.eu
