SONDRIOand A UNIQUE VALLEYVALMALENCO FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS SONDRIOand VALMALENCO A UNIQUE VALLEY FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS From the river Adda to according to the altitude and the exposure. and raw material for the processing of the To the left for those travelling from Lake grapes. 4000 m of Bernina Peak Como, the sunny rhaetic slope, where ancient Further up the dark band of fir-woods, Thank to its morphology and its geographical terraces supported by characteristic drystone refuge of a rich wildlife, gradually fading in position, the valley around Sondrio offers a walls get back on top to 700 metres: 25 miles vast stretches of alpine meadows and nival huge range of views where human activities of vineyards now clung on rocky crags to amphitheatres. and ecosystem are perfectly mixed. exploit even the smallest indentations now From cultivated fodder plants that serve as lying on the more docile slope in relaxing A charming Alpine Valley. frame to the river Adda, from the apple- parallel sequences of terracing, testimony orchards in orderly rows on the cones of the of stubborn willingness of peasant. In valley bottom You climb up to the castings front, facing north, the shaded side orobico of the glaciers and to the rocks of the characterized by thick mantle of chestnut uncontaminated crests. In the middle, the rich trees that for centuries have accompanied the variety of diversified vegetable environments lives of villagers, ensuring their sustenance TRADITIONS AND ANCIENT TYPICAL TASTES SONDRIOAt the Centre of Valtellina, wedged between "Palazzo Sertoli" with the beautiful frescoed the Rhaetic Alps and the Orobiche, lies the saloon or "Palazzo Martinengo" built in the city of Sondrio. Strolling through the city, 16th century and the historical library of "Villa between small antique shops and traditional Quadrio" easely reaching squares such as object, the view is lost confused, while the Piazza Quadrivio. palate is inevitably whetted by the typical Among flowers, rocks and vineyards, one on products that only the Valtellina can give. A the east and one on the west side of Sondrio, small city, but with an indefinable charm, the rise the Sanctuary o Madonna della Sassella result of a perfect union between buildings of and Grumello Castle. different periods and styles. From the heart of nineteenth "Piazza Garibaldi" with small steps between discrete and full of charm lanes, you can visit beautiful stately homes such as TREKKINGVALMALENCO A PARADISE FOR HIKING Walking into the immaculate atmosphere There are over 100 excursions that can be of the alpine pastures. Retracing the paths made in Valmalenco. The dense network of leading to the historical passes. Tracing trails mule tracks and trails covering the Valley, The Alta Via reaching high altitude passes, from which from settlements, through forests, up to the The Alta Via of Valmalenco, thanks to the variety of you can admire the scenery of glaciers. Or Alpine meadows at a very high altitude, can its environments, is one of the most beautiful high- lingering on morainic slopes, and between be chosen according to many combinations. altitude trails of the Alpine arc: the richness of spon- the rocky gorges armed with camera to There is something for all needs and for all taneous flora, the presence of ancient stonepits, the capture images of a very rich spontaneous ages. since the return takes place on trails huts of meadows, the shepherds’ constructions and flora or reconnoitering spaces released by from the round. the panoramic views make it unique in its kind. glaciers in search of minerals. But also making The morphology of the territory also allows The Alta Via stretches over 110 Km, between 800 and long promenades in fir-woods searching panoramic circular tours which are the most 3000 meters, through woods and high pastures, pene- for mushrooms and visiting the ancient recommended and rewarding, because they trating lateral valleys, bypassing unforgiving crossing settlements and places of human activity to propose new scenarios ever since the return is points and then carving in front of the glacier flows of Monte Disgrazia, Pizzo Bernina and Pizzo Scalino. read the life of an Alpine community. on different paths than the going. Articulated into eight daily stages, thus linked among them about fifteen refuges. The entire route takes pla- ce on well-marked trails. MOUNTAINROPES, ICE AXES, CRAMPONS:EERING ADVENTURE RIGHT NOW Say Valmalenco and think touring is one Ventina, the Sissone Valley with the north thing. Yes, because there is no corner of the wall of Disgrazia, the glaciers of Scerscen valley that can not be the scene of some and Fellaria dominated by peaks Roseg, beautiful climbing: climbing on ice, on mixed Bernina, Argent, Zupò and Palù. At its eastern and on rock. Easy climbing along the normal edge the Pizzo Scalino with its pyramidal routes plotted over one hundred years ago feature. Fifteen shelters and several equipped The Mountain Guides of Valmalenco offer dif- and difficult climbing repeated a few times bivouacs, expertly deployed in the valley ferent courses to satisfy the curiosity and for only. All in a high mountain environment at different heights, allowing to perform technical upgrading. From climbing courses, that can satisfy the thirst for adventure, this fascinating activity in safety. Quality progression of the rope on the ridge, for techni- nature, physical and spiritual freedom. The mountaineering even on Orobie. Here the cal guidance with GPS, compass, altimeter and names of places are consecrated by years spaces are smaller, but the group Redorta, map to the health in the mountains. of mountaineering literature: the Torreggio Scais and Coca in Arigna Valley certainly And for winter .... courses in Alpine skiing, freeri- Valley with Corni Bruciati, the glacier of offers emotionally opportunities for climbing. ding, ice climbing. The proposal is a proper trai- ning both in technical and cultural knowledge of the alpine environment in its various facets. AND THENTHE PLEASURE OFTHE EMBRACING A PURE SNOW LANDSCAPE There it is! The snow is an important and An efficient ski school provides assistance in characteristic element of the landscape and all specialties of nordic and downhill skiing, recreation of our mountains. The Palù - San including "Telemark". And then the ski touring. Giuseppe - Caspoggio district is a ski area Who prefers skiing with seal skins and free able to satisfy all needs. Served by the biggest spaces of off-piste skiing can count on dozens cableway in Europe and several modern chair of routes, ranging from tourism and large lifts, spreads out to about fifty kilometers of bumps on the pastures, to climbing at the perfectly groomed slopes by snow-making highest altitudes of glaciers and peaks. facilities. In addition to this, the slopes for cross-country skiing of San Giuseppe and Alpe Palù wind through beautiful pine forests and wide open spaces allowing cross-country skiing in all its variations. Ski-Area Alpe Palù-Caspoggio M.DISGRAZIA 3678 The slopes Information office Artificial snow Black runs: 16 km Ice-skating rink Red runs: 25 km Parking areas Blue runs: 25 km Snowboard park Swinmming pool Ski school: 2 km Cross-country house Ski rental Race tracks / trainings DH / SG / GS / SL: 16 km Cableway Snow Eagle Refreshment Cross-country skiing SONDRIO CHIAREGGIO 1612 Over forty miles of ski slopes of Alpe Palù On the other side of Alpe Palù you find and Caspoggio are the business card of Caspoggio, with slopes for beginners and DOSSO DEI GALLI 1900 Valmalenco. Those who want to get to Alpe families, but also with technical race tracks for TORRE S. MARIA 772 PRIMOLO 1274 S. GIUSEPPE 1433 Palù can use directly the modern Snow Eagle, racing and training at all levels. CHIESA 1000 the largest cableway in the world, with its And the snow? Do not worry, the snow is PIAZZO CAVALLI 1780 BARCHI cars for 160 people that will bring, in one at home in Valmalenco, from December to leap, at a height of 2080 meters on a terrace April is always abundant and powdery, and SASSO NERO 3000 VASSALINI that dominates the Alps, with a breathtaking if by chance the snow strays its way home, view. Those who prefer a more gradual the most modern snow-making facilities are CASPOGGIO 1098 50 ski instructors and coaches approach can climb the five kilometers of road ready to intervene to create the excellent ALPE PALU’ 2010 with skills for cross-country CIMA MOTTA 2336 LAGO PALU’ that separates Chiesa Valmalenco from San background that the skiers like. LANZADA 980 Giuseppe; hence a new chairlift will lead you Who would abandon the skis for a moment skiing, telemark, snowboarding. to Alpe Palù in few minutes, through beautiful can relax in the sun in lounge chairs or enjoy A high level of professionalism pine forests. the typical dishes of Valmalenco in shelters along the tracks, while the children will find a for individual or group lessons playground in the snow. and agonisitic workshops DOSSO DEI VETTI 1850 IT IS NATUREPARK OF OROBIE VALTELLINESI: WHERE NATURE PERFORMS ITSELF The Orobie Alps is the mountain chain that Significant the presence of alpine fauna, marks the border between the province of with good populations of chamois, deer, roe Sondrio and the province of Bergamo. It deer, and ibex, recently reintroduced. Also covers about 50 km in a series of summits substantial are the populations of grouse and culminating in the 3052 m of Pizzo Coca. This raptors. territory is characterized by an integrated and This mountainous area offers hiking wild environment and for this reason it was opportunities at various levels of difficulty, placed under guardianship and protected, from simple walks up to real challenging tours which brought to the creation of the Park of for experienced mountaineers, climbers and for the Orobie Valtellinesi.