Alpine Adventure: Tirano with Rolling Vineyards and Old Walls

Tirano is a small town in Northern Italy. It is known for the Catholic shrine of the Madonna di Tirano. It is a major tourist attraction due to the appearance of the Blessed Mother on September 29, 1504. This event is credited with ending a pestilence.

Nevertheless, a lot of tourists arrive in Tirano due to the connection of the Bernina Express, connecting Italy with the Swiss Alps.  

The town is beautifully located in the Alps, with rolling vineyards right into the town. The oldest part of the town with exterior wall fresco and cobbled narrow streets creates amazing atmosphere for a stroll and picture snapping.       

Below pictures are from the oldest part of the town

 Palazzo Merizzi

Palazzo Salis is a place to see in Tirano

Bernina Express - Most Spectacular Train Ride of the Swiss Alps

The Bernina Express train connects Chur/Davos in Switzerland with Poschiavo/Tirano in Italy crossing the Swiss Engadin Alps (previous post). It travels between north and south, offering the most spectacular views. One of the highlights is the panoramic journey through the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of the Albula and Bernina Passes. Another highlight of the journey is the Brusio Circular Viaduct.

 Lago Bianco

 Remains of a glacier

Brusio Circular Viaduct (below)

Alpine Adventure: Grisons Canton and its Castles

Grisons Canton (state) is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. Engadin Valley (previous post) is located in this canton. It is known as a region with a high density of medieval castles. Three World Heritage Sites are located here: the Benedictine Convent of St. John in Mustair (previous post), the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona and the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula and Bernina Landscape. 

Lago Bianco, Bernina Landscape

Alpine Adventure: Muottas Muragl

Muottas Muragl Mountain, 8,057 ft, in Switzerland, is easily accessible from St. Moritz. It is a short ride by bus. The summit offers panoramic restaurant with heated deck and a hotel. This mountain offers the nicest views of the lakes in the valley.