CROSSING THE ALPS ALONG CARRIAGE ROADS IS AFTER ALL A RELATIVELY RECENT AFFAIR. AS FOR THE VALLE SPLUGA IT&´S NECESSARY TO GO BACK TO BETWEEN 1818 TO 1822. A PERIOD THAT IS CELEBRATED BY CAMPODOLCINO&´S NOTED MUSEUM.

 

And the carriage road itself is essentially down to the Austrians. Work was carried out at that very time to replace the old mule tracks in the valley. Two centuries after the completion of this monumental work, MUVIS - Museum of the Via Spluga and Val San Giacomo - celebrates the feat by inaugurating a new section dedicated to the Spluga road. Perhaps the highlight of this new addition is the carriage journey brought to life again through a ten minute video. The itinerary starts from the Swiss village of Splügen and ends in Chiavenna. The video opens with a greeting: "Welcome on board, shortly we will be leaving on an adventurous journey through the Alps.

We will be travelling 40 km together and if we do not encounter problems, tomorrow we will arrive in Chiavenna. You will certainly appreciate the wonders of nature that only the Alps can provide. Have a good trip!" These might well have been the words of a coachman aboard one of the first carriages travelling the Spluga road. It&´s an immersive experience with the placement of the screen within a sala-carrozza carriage furnished, the very type that would have served the Spluga. To complete this trip down memory lane is a visit to the stüa adjacent to the carriage, dedicated to the Grand Tour. The display cases exhibit objects that belonged to tourists of the time among which an original Lindau stagecoach horn stands proudly. A monitor reproduces a series of prints by Meyer, Lose and Calvert illustrating the scenic journey. There are also portraits of some of the more illustrious travellers over the centuries and this panels permit visitors to see and hear from the character who briefly tells of his Spluga experience. An interactive and exciting educational experience suitable for everyone.