Messner Mountain Museum Ortles

About the museum

The Messner Mountain Museum Ortles, opened in 2004, is one of the museums in the circuit founded by Reinhold Messner. It is located in Solda, in the municipality of Stelvio, at the foot of the Ortles massif, and is built entirely underground, like a crevasse in a glacier. The theme chosen is ice, in its forms, in the myths and in the threats it brings.

The exhibition occupies about 300 square metres and unfolds among exposed concrete, slits of light and layers. The visitor literally enters the mountain and encounters topics such as avalanches, polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica, skiing, ice climbing and the retreat of the glaciers. There are ice-related instruments, polar images, expedition objects and two centuries of depictions of the Ortles, spanning art, technology and stories; outside, a glacier appears to continue into the interior.

The layout is deliberately minimalist and quiet: the spaces are walked through slowly, with filtered light and few texts, in an atmosphere of reduction that invites you to slow down. In Solda the small exhibition “Alpine Curiosa”, in an old mountaineers' hut, also belongs to the same network.

Highlights

• Museum built underground, like a crevasse in a glacier
• Polar expeditions, images of the Arctic and Antarctica
• Avalanches, skiing and ice climbing
• Two centuries of images of the Ortles
• Outdoor glacier that continues into the interior

Permanent exhibition

• Il ghiaccio: assenza e forza – Underground route on glaciers, avalanches, polar expeditions, skiing and ice climbing, with expedition objects and two centuries of images of the Ortles.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Messner Mountain Museum

Admission & discounts

With the GEO-Card, two tickets for the price of one (valid for adults). The guest pass is not valid. Tickets can also be bought online. Free admission with a press card only on request to the management.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Level walk of about 50 metres from the car park (gravel and irregular natural stone slabs); the visit route is level with two ramps (gradient 7–14%). There are no lifts. Animals are not admitted, except dogs accompanying blind or deaf persons.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car from Merano on the SS 38, or from the Passo Resia on the SS 40 towards the Stelvio Pass as far as Gomagoi, then the SS 622 to Solda.

Amenities & dining

In the village of Solda, near the museum, there are several dining options.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit