Created in 1980 and opened to the public in 1982, the Giardino Botanico Alpino "Rezia" covers 1.5 hectares in Bormio, within the Stelvio National Park, at an altitude of 1,350 to 1,400 metres above sea level. Managed by the Stelvio National Park Consortium since 1996, the garden collects and preserves plant species native to the park as well as specimens from other global mountain systems.
What to see
The garden's living collection is divided into distinct sections. The central sector contains around 1,300 species native to Stelvio National Park, displayed across recreated natural habitats such as scree slopes, alpine pastures, sub-alpine bogs, and scrublands. A second section features plants collected from major mountain ranges and polar regions around the world, including the Andes, Apennines, Caucasus, Himalayas, Pyrenees, and the Arctic and Antarctic. Additionally, a dedicated scientific collection is arranged systematically by genus.
Visiting
The garden is part of the Lombardy Botanical Gardens Network, the International Association of Alpine Botanical Gardens, and the Italian national working group for botanical and historic gardens.
Our editors' tip
Make sure to compare the native habitat reconstructions of Stelvio with the specialized beds housing exotic flora brought from the Himalayas and the Andes.