All its history is filled with firsts, not only on the tourist front: it was the first Swiss city to be equipped with an electric lighting system; the first in Graubünden to use telephones; the first in the Alpine arc to see a tram run and to establish from scratch a top-class hotel, like the legendary Palace. Moreover, it was the first to host, in 1882, a European ice skating championship, to organize incredible horse and greyhound races on snowy fields, golf, cricket, and polo championships with and without snow, and much more. The visit can begin from St. Moritz Dorf, the oldest settlement, full of hotels, shops, and charming typical Engadine houses. Along Via Maistra stand the town hall and the 18th-century Reformed church, which boasts a beautiful spire bell tower and the Mauritiusbrunnen, a scenic fountain from the early 1900s. The street ends in an ascent, where the Casino, the Bear Fountain, and the 14th-century Tower appear, which marks the exact spot where the church dedicated to San Murezzan once stood. Heading back and taking Via dal Bagn, it’s worth pausing at the Engadine Museum, housed in a beautiful typical early 1900s house, where a grand display of valley civilization is set up.
Following the walk towards Champfèr, you reach the Segantini Museum, where some works of the Trentino artist who worked and died among these mountains are gathered. On the other bank of the Inn, the river of St. Moritz, lies St. Moritz Bad, the settlement developed around the thermal baths that have used iron-rich waters emerging from underground since 1854. The surroundings are also rich in charm and irresistible for hikers: from the Dorf center, near the Reformed church, a funicular climbs to 2005 meters at Chantarella, from where another lift leads to Corviglia (2486 meters), in the shadow of Piz Nair, offering views over the grand Bernina Group. Piz Nair and its ski slopes are also reachable by cable car. Heidi fans, the little mountain girl from the pen of writer Johanna Spyri, should not miss the Heidiweg, the path leading to her hut just above Dorf, where in the 1970s the TV series was filmed. Finally, from St. Moritz Bad, a series of excellent trails start leading to the 3192 meters of Piz Surlej, offering priceless views of the lakes and the Bernina.
