Tirano

About

While best known as the starting point for the UNESCO protected Bernina Express railway, this alpine city has a lot more to offer visitors than just a trip out of town. On September 29, 1504, the Virgin Mary appeared to the village and ended a pestilence. Within days, wheels were in motion to construct a basilica dedicated to the miracle. Within 6 months, construction had begun, and the church was officiated in 1513. The interior is lined with vibrant frescoes and dominated by a massive pipe organ with gilded wood frame. The 17th century Palazzo Salis has over ten rooms decorated with frescoes and stucco from the 17th and 18th century. Dubbed ‘one of the most frescoed' mansions’, the trompe l'oeil artwork is a feast for the eyes - as is the manicured Italian garden.