Stelvio Pass Road Bicentennial Celebrations 2025

The Stelvio Pass road, engineered by Carlo Donegani under Emperor Francis I of Austria, celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2025. Construction began on June 26, 1820, and concluded five years later, featuring 34 hairpin bends on the Valtellina side (later 40) and 48 on the South Tyrolean side, along with tunnels, avalanche barriers, and service buildings. In 1831, a horse-drawn coach service connected Milan to Landeck in 125 hours. The road became a commercial route, tourist attraction, and site of war and sporting events. On June 1, 1953, the Giro d'Italia first tackled the pass, with Fausto Coppi winning the pink jersey, earning the road the nickname "Cima Coppi." The bicentennial program includes the Giro d'Italia stage on May 28, the Stelvio Santini race on June 8, and the Re Stelvio Mapei on July 13. From June to September, Enjoy Stelvio Valtellina closes alpine passes to motorized traffic for nature enthusiasts. The main celebration weekend is July 5-6, with music, literary meetings, photo exhibitions, tastings, and a parade of vintage vehicles. A documentary film "Stelvio. Crocevia della pace" by Alessandro Melazzini explores the pass's transformation from a conflict symbol to a meeting place.