Suspended between ice and peaks: Stelvio National Park, the wild heart of Lombardy

In the central Alps, there is a treasure chest of unspoiled nature, between the provinces of Sondrio and Brescia. It is one of Italy's most iconic and vast parks. I am talking about the Stelvio National Park, founded in 1935, where mountains, glaciers, and forests coexist in an almost fairytale balance. The valleys carved by glaciers and the peaks exceeding $3500$ meters form breathtaking curves that enchant visitors.

In summer, the meadows are very colorful, while in winter, the peaks are dressed in white. There is something for everyone here at the Stelvio National Park. The Stelvio Road (Strada dello Stelvio) is one of the most spectacular panoramic points in Europe, featuring 48 hairpin turns that climb up to $2758$ meters at the Stelvio Pass. You can travel it by car—like in the best advertisements—by motorbike, or by bike.

And during the walk, you can encounter many different animal species, including ibex, deer, and chamois—it feels like being in Bambi. The air is pure and uncontaminated, which is demonstrated by the presence of many lichens and mosses. The trails of Val Zebrù and Valfurva lead to high-altitude refuges, where you can taste typical traditional dishes, such as polenta taragna. This park, during the First World War, was only mountains, and was indeed a theater of war.

Traces of trenches, encampments, and war remains, like helmets among the stones, still exist today. The Stelvio National Park, therefore, is much more than simple nature; it is also history. And walking through it will give you an almost... bitter taste.