Prato allo Stelvio

The community of Prato allo Stelvio is in Venosta valley, on the territory of the Stelvio Nature Park. Its village centre is a wonderful mixture of ancient and modern. Its more recent buildings harmonise perfectly with the old lanes of the historic centre and the Romanesque bell tower. Lively, cheerful and colourful, Prato allo Stelvio presents itself as one of the most picturesque villages in South Tyrol, where you can still find houses dating from the 5th century. On this theme should be mentioned the house at via degli Argentieri 18, a Romanesque building, which has been reworked in the 16th century, the house at via del Corso 20  with ornamentation from about 1750 and Castel Prato allo Stelvio, a former hunting lodge.

Thanks to the construction of roads over Stelvio Pass, Prato allo Stelvio has become a tourist destination. In former times without this connection the village was almost completely isolated; today the area attracts many visitors, who come not only for winter sports, but also to enjoy the highlights of art and history. These include several churches, such as the parish church of Mary Regina, the Church of St George and the Church of St. John. The last of these is worth a special look. It was constructed in the 13th century by the Count of Engelberg in the Romanesque style for their private use. Subsequently it was entrusted to the clergy from Tschengels, but the last Engelberg died in 1421. The church is dedicated to John the Evangelist and John the Baptist and has been enriched through the ages by sacred representations. It was last restored in 2008.

Apart from the many things to do on a summer holiday in the fresh air on the huge territory of the Stelvio Nature Park, the skiing areas of Alta Venosta valley are easily reached in winter.