The Iceman of Similaun (Italy)

Madonna di Senales (1508 m), the most important tourist resort of Senales Valley

Madonna di Senales (1508 m), the most important tourist resort of Senales Valley

Alpine architecture of Senales Valley

Alpine architecture of Senales Valley

Madonna di Senales. Archeopark with showrooms and reconstruction of alpine environments during the Neolithic period

Madonna di Senales. Archeopark. The showrooms with representation of the murder of Ötzi, the Iceman mummy

Madonna di Senales. Archeopark with the reconstruction of a village from the late Neolithic period

Madonna di Senales. Archeopark with the reconstruction of a village from the late Neolithic period

Madonna di Senales. Archeopark with the reconstruction of a village from the late Neolithic period

Madonna di Senales. Archeopark with the reconstruction of a village from the late Neolithic period

Maso Corto (2011 m). Start of the Glacier cableway to the summit of Mount Grawand (3212 m)

Maso Corto (2011 m). Glacier cableway, a meeting place for hikers visiting the path of Ötzi

Maso Corto (2011 m). The alpine guides Robert Ciatti (left) and Tamara Lunger, expert guides on the Ötzi Tour

Top of Mount Grawand (3212m). The museum gallery dedicated to Ötzi, the mummy of 5300 year found in the Similaun Glacier

Mount Grawand (3212m). The museum gallery dedicated to Ötzi, the mummy of 5300 year found in the Similaun Glacier

Glacier cableway. Departure from the Grawand mountain (3205 m), towards the glacier Hochjochfermer (2800 m)

Grawand descent from the mountain (3205 m), towards the glacier Hochjochferner (2800 m)

Play of light and shadows of the mountains as soon covered with fresh snow

First stretch of the path of Ötzi. It leaves the Mount Grawand descending along the glacier Hochjochfermer

From the stony of glacier Hochjochferner (2800 m), begins the short climb to the Schwarze Wand (3170 m)

From the stony of glacier Hochjochferner (2800 m), begins the short climb to the Schwarze Wand (3170 m)

From the stony of glacier Hochjochferner (2800 m), begins the short climb to the Schwarze Wand (3170 m)

The second part of Ötzi tour is the short climb to the Schwarze Wand (3170 m)

The second part of Ötzi Tour is the short climb to the Schwarze Wand (3170 m)

The second part of Ötzi Tour is the short climb to the Schwarze Wand (3170 m)

The path continues with a diagonal from Schwarze Wandi (3170) to climb the Hauslabjoch (3210 m)

The pyramid on the Giogo of Tisa (3210 m) near the site of the discovery the Ötzi mummy

The last stretch of the path of Ötzi, is the climb to the Similaun refuge

The last stretch of the path of Ötzi, is the climb to the Similaun refuge

The glacier of Similaun

After lunch at the Similaun Refuge (3017 m), begins the descent into the Tisa valley to Maso Corto and Vernago (1700 m)

After lunch at the Similaun Refuge (3017 m), begins the descent into the Tisa valley to Maso Corto and Vernago (1700 m)

Tisa valley. Descent to Vernago

Tisa valley. Descent to Vernago

Maso Tisa, the arrival of Ötzi path. Below, the artificial lake of Vernago

Maso Tisa, the arrival of Ötzi path. The guide Tamara Lunger, signing the certificates of those who have walked the path of Ötzi

The Vernago artificial lake

The Vernago artificial lake

The forests of fir, larch and pine trees, covering the Val Senales

Vernago (1700 m)

City of Bolzano. South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Museum where is exposed the history and Ötzi mummy

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. One of the rooms with the clothing of Ötzi, the man of 5300 years ago, found in the ice

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. The interactive monitor where you can discover all the secrets of the mummy Ötzi

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. The interactive monitor where you can discover all the secrets of the mummy Ötzi

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. The mummy of Ötzi, visible from a window, it is placed in a chamber with controlled atmosphere

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Ötzi must have been like 5300 years ago

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Some part of the clothing of Ötzi and some weapons like the dagger and the arc

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Some Ötzi’s tattoos

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. The reconstruction of the face of Ötzi. The iceman of 5300 years ago

Ötzi Glacier Tour

By: Carlo Piccinelli

Where the Ötzi mummy was discovered on Google Maps.
On 19 September 1991, Erika and Helmut Simon, two German hikers descending to the Giogo of Tisa, saw a mummy locked in the ice. It was a sensational discovery for the archaeological world because the mummy is dating back to 5300 years before. Not only the mummy was a discovery scentifica unique in the world but also for his clothes, and gear that man came from the ice, carried with him and found near the body. The mummy was preserved for thousands of years thanks to the site where Ötzi, so it was called the mummy, died. Dead hit by a murderous arrow, the corpse it settled in a small rocky hollow at 3210 m, a place that preserved Ötzi by the glacier movements that formed in the subsequent millennia. Today Ötzi and his equipment, are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum in Bolzano and the place of discovery, is included in a interesting alpine tour that among rocks and glaciers, retraces the path that the Iceman, would route before to find death. An interesting trip for hikers who want to discover and learn about the history of the Iceman of Similaun.
Useful links for more informations:
Tourism in Val Senales: www.schnalstal-info.com, www.valsenales.com
Glacier cable car: www.schnalstal.com
Archaeological Park and Ötzi Glacier Tour: www.archeoparc.it/en
South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology: www.iceman.it/en
Similaun Refuge: www.vent-hotel-post.com