In the heart of Tirano, just a few steps from the Basilica of Madonna di Tirano, the Bernina Express starts, not only a simple railway connection between Italy and Switzerland, but a real travel experience to discover unique landscapes, bre athtaking views of untouched nature, and fascinating places rich in history, culture and tradition. The engineering and architectural masterpiece from the beginning of the 20th century has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Albula line since 2008.
On board the Bernina Express, equipped with modern panoramic cars with large windows offering 360° views, you will be enchanted by the famous circular viaduct of Brusio in Valposchiavo, the Palü glacier, Piz Cambrena and Lakes Bianco and Nero at the Ospizio Bernina station at 2.253 m above sea level. This is the highest point reached by this railway, which does not use a rack-and-pinion system but gently gains altitude curve by curve, overcoming more than 1800 m in height difference. The journey continues slightly downhill with many surprises: the Bernina Group, a spectacular and unforgettable sight, with the summit of the majestic Piz Bernina that exceeds 4.000 m and dominates the tongue of the Morteratsch glacier; from this point onwards, the Engadine opens up, the valley of the river Inn, home to famous towns such as Pontresina and fashionable St. Moritz.
The Bernina Express runs all year round: in winter, amidst the beautiful snow-covered landscapes; in summer, with the possibility of using open convertible cars that allow travellers to "breathe in" the fresh and healthy air of the Alps; in spring, between flowering gardens and fields and some rare late snowfalls; in autumn, amidst panoramas with shades of bright orange, through yellow to red, almost like a painting.
