Livigno

Livigno, town, comune (administrative district), and valley located at the elevation of 5,958 feet (1,816 meters) in the Italian Alps, on the border with Switzerland. It is well known as a venue for high-altitude winter sports, Alpine skiing in particular.

History

The name Livigno probably derives from a German term meaning “snow avalanche”; it was first recorded in 1187. The village and its surrounding region were isolated by the Alpine environment for centuries, even acquiring the nickname “Little Tibet” because of its elevation. Livigno was absorbed by the county of Bormio in 1325, and its subsequent political history followed that of Bormio. Rule by the Swiss canton of the Grisons gave way to annexation by the Napoleon-created Cisalpine Republic in 1797, with the town eventually joining the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

For most of its history, Livigno was a small farming community cut off from the rest of Italy during the winter. That situation changed in the 1950s and ’60s, when the town installed its first ski lifts and took its first steps toward becoming a ski resort. Over the course of decades, Livigno upgraded its infrastructure and expanded its accommodation facilities. One relic of the past played an important role: The town had been granted duty-free status in the 16th century. This measure, originally implemented to prevent depopulation, proved to be useful to Livigno’s development as a resort by enabling it to offer competitive prices on sporting and luxury goods.

The contemporary town

Currently, Livigno has more than 60 miles (100 km) of ski slopes, which are generally used from November to May. There are also 20 miles (30 km) of cross-country ski trails. The town also hosts international sporting events at the highest level and is scheduled to host the snowboarding and freestyle competitions at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Pop. (2021) 4,898.