After three long years, we once again spent Christmas and New Year somewhere other than in the Czech Republic. We spent the time around Christmas in Livigno, Italy, and at the end and turn of the year, we moved to Austria to the city of Salzburg.

Although Livigno is highly visited and positively evaluated by tourists from the Czech Republic especially as an amazing ski destination, I think that there are many similar and in some respects better places in Italy. In particular, the journey here is very long and time-consuming. There is no nearby highway that leads here (as is the case with other equally well-known ski resorts) from which you can simply get off, and from which you are on the spot after a few tens of kilometres. You have to drive many kilometres off the highway, cross the borders of four countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy) on the way from Prague and, in addition, wait for permission to enter the time-regulated and only alternately one-way Munt-la-Schera toll tunnel connecting the Engadin in the Swiss canton of Graubünden with the city of Livigno in the Italian province of Sondrio.
Otherwise, Livigno and the entire valley surrounded by mountains here is beautiful. Many ski slopes, plenty of cross-country trails and wonderful weather for most of the year make this place a skiing paradise. It is not for nothing that competitions in all skiing and snowboarding disciplines are regularly held here. And in the summer, cycling races are also held on the same tracks.
Livigno has one interesting thing, and that is its special tax and customs status, which derives from its history and is currently very favourable for tourism. There is no VAT (value added tax), consumption taxes and, to some extent, customs duties. This leads to low prices especially for alcohol, perfumery, clothing and fuel. Tourists can buy them in unlimited quantities, but they can only export them for their own use. Because of this, the border is guarded by Swiss customs officials behind the aforementioned tunelem Munt-la-Schera tunnel, as well as by their Italian counterparts in the Foscagno saddle, checking passing cars.

Several photos