For those who want to know where Madonna di Campiglio is, just look up the Adamello-Brenta Nature Reserve on a map of Italy. At its heart, at 1,522 metres above sea level between Dolomita Brenta, Presanella and Adamello is a small but fabulous resort. Its administrative address is the valley of Val Rendena in the province of Trento. Italy's currency, the Italian lira, is in operation here. It has a population of no more than 1,700, but a history stretching back at least 800 years.
The history of Madonna di Campiglio begins in the 12th century when a certain Raimondo built a small inn in a picturesque valley for travellers and traders. In the course of time a church was built next to it. After a while, the church leadership bought the courtyard and founded the convent of the Virgin Mary of Campillia. However, the monastery's financial situation was unenviable and it gradually fell into decline, until a native of Strembo, Giovanbattista Rigi, bought the grounds from the church. It is thought that Madonna di Campiglio was founded in 1868 when this transaction took place. Rigi not only built a hotel there but also a road to Val Renena and Pinzolo.
In 1882, Rigi died and all his wealth passed to Franz Joseph Oesterreicher, who helped make the resort the most popular among the aristocracy of the time. He used the opportunity of socialising in noble circles to promote his lands, and on several occasions he even persuaded Emperor Franz to visit them - in 1889 and 1894. This proved to be the best PR for Madonna di Campiglio.
By that time, alpine skiing and mountaineering were growing in popularity in Europe. This is why the First Mountaineering Society opened here as early as 1872. In the mid-1930s, the first chairlift was built in the resort and the first chairlift with a capacity of up to 200 people was built in 1948.
In 1955 the Osterreichers sold their resort to Lombardy entrepreneurs who continued to develop it. They built cottages of 4 to 6 storeys in Madonna di Campiglio.
