Livigno, Alpine commune in Province of Sondrio, Italy
Livigno is a commune in the Province of Sondrio, lying in a high valley at around 1800 meters (5900 feet) in the Italian Alps. The settlement follows a long, open valley floor, with buildings spread along the main road and surrounded by slopes leading to higher peaks near the Swiss border.
Shepherds founded a small settlement in this remote valley during the Middle Ages, which served for centuries as a connection between Italian and Swiss lands. The area remained hard to reach for long periods, which granted residents certain economic privileges that continue in a modified form today.
The winter celebration of Carnevale di Livigno displays local traditions through parades where residents wear traditional mountain costumes and perform folk dances.
The duty-free zone status allows visitors to buy goods without Italian VAT, attracting many shoppers to the area. Access is typically via mountain passes that may close temporarily during winter after heavy snowfall.
The small hamlet of Trepalle is part of the commune and is considered the highest permanently inhabited settlement in Europe, above 2000 meters (6560 feet). A few residents live there year-round despite the long winter months with deep cold.
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