Valmalenco

Trekking, skiing, sports, and family

The Valmalenco is one of the splendid valleys of the Valtellina. It is located on the Rhaetian side of the Western Alps, north of Sondrio, just a few kilometers from the city; starting from the Valdone bridge and initially featuring sharp hairpin bends, it gradually opens up as you head north towards Pizzo Bernina (which, at 4049 meters above sea level, is the highest peak of the Central-Eastern Alps), with the Bregaglia Mountains to the west and the Scalino Group to the east. The Valmalenco stretches for about fifteen kilometers and is traversed by the Mallero stream, which flows into the Adda River near Sondrio. It is right at the gates of the city of Sondrio that you need to turn towards Valmalenco to reach the places we will now explore. For those traveling by public transport, there is a dedicated bus line that departs near the Sondrio train station. In summer, the bus also reaches Campo Franscia.

There are five municipalities that are part of the Valmalenco:

• Torre di Santa Maria, starting point for numerous and diverse excursions,

• the small village of Spriana,

• Church in Valmalenco, best known for its ski slopes,

• Lanzada with its dams,

• Caspoggio, known for its multifunctional center.

As we will see, there are numerous activities and opportunities that these towns offer to both residents and tourists, who each year can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of this valley thanks to the many accommodation facilities in the area. The Valmalenco tourist area is also rich in infrastructure, allowing us to fully experience the mountains in all their forms and facets, throughout every season of the year.

Let’s explore Valmalenco together, stopping in its various towns along the way.

Spriana

Spriana is the first village we encounter as we enter the valley. It lies to the traveler’s right (and thus on the left bank of the stream). During the Christmas holidays, the festive lights in the “Scilironi” district are enchanting and wonderful, giving us a magical welcome.

Torre Santa Maria

The first major tourist destination is Torre di Santa Maria, which offers essential services such as a bakery, bars, small supermarkets, a butcher, and more. There are also plenty of apartments and mountain huts available for rent. Torre di Santa Maria is the starting point for a wide range of excursions, and in particular, it is the starting point of the Alta Via, an 8-stage trekking route typically completed over eight days, covering 110 km. From the second stage onward, the trail stays mostly above 2,000 meters. Notable highlights along the route include Lake Palù, the Campo Moro dams, and the glaciers of Disgrazia, Bernina, and Scalino. The first stage involves ascending from the Ciappanico area to Alpe Piasci, passing Lake Arcoglio, Sasso Bianco, and the Bosio-Galli mountain hut. Also worth visiting is the Ca Bianchi district, where you’ll find a fascinating rock settlement.

Chiesa in Valmalenco

The most populated municipality in Valmalenco is Chiesa in Valmalenco. What most characterizes this town is undoubtedly the Alpe Palù ski area: around sixty kilometers of ski slopes, ranging from easy runs for beginners to more challenging ones for experts. The sunny slopes,

It’s not only winter that brings excitement: the summer season offers hikers the chance to experience wonderful adventures. Chiesa in Valmalenco is also a stop along the aforementioned Alta Via, which in this municipality reaches the beautiful Chiareggio basin — a place worth highlighting. It is one of the most picturesque villages in the Alps, located at 1,600 meters above sea level. Here, unspoiled nature reigns supreme. In winter, it can be reached on foot, with snowshoes, cross-country skis, or even by snowmobile. Bars and restaurants offer the chance to enjoy traditional local cuisine.

All year round in Chiesa in Valmalenco, it is possible to access the swimming pool, which offers numerous courses for both adults and children. It is also equipped with a sauna, Turkish bath, and, of course in summer, a sunbathing area.

Finally, the Vassalini district is home to a sports center with a large parking area, where you can play a game of tennis or five-a-side football and enjoy a refreshing break at the bar.

Chiesa in Valmalenco is therefore an excellent tourist destination, with many rustic homes, mountain huts, and apartments available both for rent and for sale.

Lanzada

Now let’s move on to the small village of Lanzada, which is home to the “Bagnada” mine (http://minieradellabagnada.it). Today, it also features a museum that tells the story of the mine and the valley: it showcases the various stone extraction and processing activities (soapstone, talc, and serpentine).

Lanzada is especially known for its artificial dams, the Campo Moro Dam and the Gera Dam, located at around 2,000 meters above sea level and popular hiking destinations. Built between 1958 and 1965, the first one we encounter, the Campo Moro Dam, consists of two separate dams and has a capacity of 10 million cubic meters of water. The second artificial reservoir, which can hold up to 65 million cubic meters of water, is impressively tall and certainly does not go unnoticed by visitors.

Regarding activities to enjoy in Lanzada, there is an ice skating rink in the Ganda area at the Pradasc sports center, as well as a climbing gym and a mini slope for beginners to take their first steps in skiing or go tubing. Services and refreshment points are also available here.

Caspoggio

To conclude, let’s see what Caspoggio offers, a destination especially chosen by families for its many opportunities: there are countless walks, as in all of Valmalenco, ranging in difficulty levels. The ice skating rink is an attraction that draws tourists both young and old. But above all, Caspoggio has become a meeting point and a reference for the valley thanks to the Zenith Mountain Center: a complex dedicated to sports and more, open all year round. Here, besides sports facilities such as the mountain biking training area, outdoor basketball, soccer, and ten

Besides traditional skiing, which sees Chiesa in Valmalenco as a main player, Valmalenco offers the opportunity to practice more extreme winter sports. At Alpe Palù there is a snow park where you can enjoy snowboarding and freestyle skiing. Additionally, there is a track set up for spectacular boardercross and skicross races.

SPORT AND ACTIVITIES

The cross-country skiing trails are numerous and always well maintained. In addition to the 17 km of natural tracks at Lake Palù at 2,000 meters elevation, there are the loops of San Giuseppe and Lanzada, totaling almost 40 km!

There are also many ski mountaineering routes, from the Bernina glacier to the Disgrazia glacier, from the Scerscen glacier to the Pizzo Scalino glacier. The trails are well laid out and dotted with mountain huts that provide refreshments for travelers.

Bikers also have plenty of options: in Valmalenco, they will find routes of varying difficulty, with more or less challenging climbs, both dirt and paved roads, and even a rental point in the Vassalini area at the office of the Consorzio Turistico Sondrio and Valmalenco. There is also the possibility to organize outings with expert guides, as well as a bike shuttle service to reach the places to visit.

There are many opportunities for climbing enthusiasts of all levels.

Valmalenco is above all the homeland of trekking in Valtellina: with its numerous mountain huts and endless walking possibilities and levels, it attracts tourists from all over the world. We have already seen the Alta Via route; however, it is also essential to mention the Sentiero Rusca, which starts from Sondrio and connects Italy to Switzerland by crossing our beautiful valley. The route is mainly intended for hikers, except for the first section (from Sondrio to Chiesa in Valmalenco), which is also ideal for cyclists. The approximately 32 km path is well marked and usually takes two days to complete, totaling about twelve hours, ending at Muretto. The entire route is scenic and allows you to admire the beauties of nature among pastures, forests, and alpine meadows.

Water and thrill seekers will also find plenty to enjoy: in the upper part of the valley, on the Cormor stream, which is partly underground, canyoning activities are organized — a breathtaking mix of mountaineering and water techniques. (http://valmalencoalpina.com) The stunning beauty of this glacial stream is considered among the most precious in Europe for this activity.

Finally, we want to mention the Valmalenco Ultra Trail Distance. The VUT (http://ultravalmalenco.com) offers both a relay and an individual format on the Alta Via route. The course covers about 90 km with 4 passes for a total elevation gain of 6,000 meters and is dotted with mountain huts. Noteworthy was last year’s initiative when the Valmalenco Ultra Trail was completely Plastic Free.

What else can be said about this valley? Nature here offers the chance to enjoy alpine lakes, glaciers, and towering peaks; it has provided the tools to support various winter and summer sports. Over the years, the local population has focused on tourism by developing recreational activities, bars, family spaces, and offering a wide variety of food and wine options, numerous rental solutions, and hospitality services. Valmalenco, in short, meets the needs of everyone — professionals and beginners, families and groups of friends. This is why choosing to buy or rent a house — rustic homes or mountain huts — in this beautiful valley is a great opportunity, with many options also available for short-term rentals.

All that’s left is to discover it together. Check out the offers from our Real Estate Agency.

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