Stelvio Pass (Day)

Original illustration of the Stelvio Pass (Passo dello Stelvio) in northern Italy, near the border with Switzerland. The Stelio Pass runs through the Ortler Alps between Stilfs in South Tyrol and Bormio in Sondrio; it is the highest pass in the Eastern Alps at 2,757m, and the second-highest in the Alps as a whole, behind France's Col de l'Iseran. The pass is overlooked by the 'Peak of the Three Languages', where Romansh, German, and Italian-speaking regions meet; the three peoples call it, in order, Piza da las Trais Linguas, Dreisprachenspitze, and Cima Garibaldi; the tallest mountain in the region, however, is the Ortler.

The Stelvio Pass is particularly well-known for the 48 hairpin turns which climb the eastern ramp, a sight well-known to fans of many sports. The Giro d'Italia road bicycle race frequently crosses the Stelvio Pass, and has done since 1953; it is the highest point of any cycling Grand Tour; the nearby town of Bormio often hosts World Cup ski racing on the Pista Stelvio course; and Top Gear in 2008 named it the greatest driving road in the world. The pass even has a motorbike and a car named after it: the Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200, and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, respectively.

Much of the area forms part of Stelvio National Park, the largest national park in the Italian Alps. The Stelvio National Park administration organises an annual event, Stelvio Bike Day, in which the roads are closed to other traffic. An average of 12,000 cyclists take part in this event, with the most popular route starting at Brad before descending over the adjoining Umbrail pass to Val Müstair in Switzerland.

This illustration by Rob Wisdom is a high quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper.

12x16" art print shown. Cropping and title position (if applicable) may differ slightly on 'A' size art prints.