The Valmalencois one of the most magnificent valleys in the Valtellina. It lies on the Rhaetian face of the western Alps,just a few kilometres north of the main town of Sondrio. Starting out from the Valdone bridge and initially climbing up some tight hairpin bends, the valley gradually opens out as we eventually reach Pizzo Bernina (which at 4049 m.a.s.l. is the highest peak of the central Eastern Alps), with the mountains of the Val Bregaglia to the west and the Scalino peaks to the east. The Valmalencois around 15km in length and is traversed by the Mallero torrent, which eventually flows into the Adda river on the outskirts of Sondrio. It’s around here, at the gates of Sondrio that travellers turn off to reach the Valmalenco in order to visit the places that we will now describe. For those using public transport there is a bus service which leaves from the bus station near the Sondrio’s train station. During the summer months this bus service reaches the hamlet of Campo Franscia.
There are five municipalities in the Valmalenco. These include Torre di Santa Maria, which is often a starting point for many excursions, the tiny hamlet of Spriana, Chiesa in Valmalenco which is famous for its ski slopes, Lanzada which has important dams and finally Caspoggio which is notable for its recreation centre.
As we will see, these places offer numerous opportunities and activities to both locals and tourists, who come here every year to see the beautiful landscapes throughout the valley and are welcomed by the numerous accommodation facilities. The Valmalenco area also features many amenities which allow visitors to enjoy mountain life to the fullest extent, in every aspect and all year round.
Let’s discover together, hamlet by hamlet, what makes the Valmalencoso great.
Spriana is the first stop when entering the Valmalenco, and lies to the right as you look up the valley (on the left bank of the Mallero). During the winter holidays the Christmas lights put up along the “Scilironi” district are beautiful to behold and give a warm welcome to visitors.
The first significant port of call for visitors isTorre di Santa Maria, where all your basic needs can be met, as it features a bakery, several bars, minimarket, a butcher’s shop and more. It also has apartments and chalets to rent. Torre di Santa Maria is notably a starting point for many excursions, and in particular is the gateway for the Alta Via, a walking trail of around 110km, which for the most part twists and turns at over 2000 m.a.s.l.It has 8 stop-over points and is usually traversed in as many days. Some of its highlights include the Palu lake, the Campo Moro dams and the glaciers of Disgrazia, Bernina and Scalino. As you leave Santa Maria, it takes you up the Ciappanico slopes until you reach Alpe Piasci, while passing the Arcoglio tarn, the Sasso Bianco and the Bosio-Galli cabin. The Ca Bianchi road in Santa Maria is worth a visit for its rock formations.
The biggest town is that of Chiesa in Valmalenco, which is most notable for its Paluski resort. There are around 60km of ski pistes, ranging from beginner to expert. These sunny slopes reach heights of around 2237 m.a.s.l. and can be accessed either by the Snow Eagle (Europe’s most spacious cable car system, able to transport up to 160 people at a time), or alternatively by a covered chairlift which starts from the San Giuseppe hamlet. Recently a new trend has taken off in Chiesa. Snowshoe hikes are very popular and are sometimes even possible at night.
However, it’s not only the winter activities that makes Chiesa appealing. The warmer months allow for plenty of excursions and Chiesa is one of the stop-overs on the previously mentioned Alta Via route, which stops off in the hamlet of Chiareggio, which deserves its own mention. Chiareggio is a perfect example of a typical Alpine village and stands at around 1600 m.a.s.l. Here the natural environment is unspoiled and in the winter months it can be accessed on foot, using snowshoes, skis or snowmobiles. The bars and restaurants, which offer great examples of local cuisine, also deserve a mention.
Chiesa in Valmalenco also has well-equipped swimming baths, which offer courses for children and adults and also has a sauna, steam baths and in the summer a solarium.
The Vassalini district plays host to another sports complex with ample parking, where it’s always possible to play a game of tennis or football or find refreshments at the bar.
We can say, in conclusion, that Chiesa in Valmalenco is an excellent tourist destination and it has numerous rustic and modern chalets, as well as apartments, both to rent and to buy.
Now we come to the town of Lanzada, where we can find the “Bagnada” mines and a museum which recounts the history of the mines and the valley (https://www.minieradellabagnada.it/en/home_en/).
You can find out about the different mining techniques and processing of the varieties of stone (ollare, talc and serpentine). Lanzadais probably most notable however for the man-made dams at Campo Moro and Gera(about 2000 m.a.s.l.) which are popular destinations for hikers. Built between 1958 and 1965, the first of the two you come across is the Campo Moro dam, which is actually composed of 2 separate basins and has a capacity of 10 million cubic metres of water. Gera’s basin can contain around 65 million cubic metres and is more imposing and impressive for its size which can hardly fail to catch the eye.
Lanzadaalso offers other forms of entertainment, including an ice-rink situated in the Ganda district Pradasc sports centre, where you can also find a climbing wall and a small ski slope for those learning to ski or sledge. There are also bars and restaurants to help you refuel.
Finally let’s find out what Caspoggiohas to offer. It is a favourite destination for families thanks to its wide range of activities, such as a vast number of Valmalenco hiking trails for people of all ages. There’s an ice rink which is fun for young and old. However Caspoggio has become most notable for its Montagna Zenith Rec Centre, which offers not only sports but many family-friendly activities, both indoor and outdoor, all year round. Here you have access to mountain biking, basketball, football and tennis, but there is also a large open-air playpark and a games room offering darts, billiards and more to entertain the children. You can also find the Zenith cafè, offering drinks and snacks and a sandwich bar where you can taste local foods and wines. If you’re hungry for more there is the Zenith Chalet restaurant with its pools of trout, which are also accessible for those who enjoy a spot of fishing.
SPORT AND ACTIVITIES
Along with more traditional sports like skiing, Chiesa in Valmalenco and the valleys offer visitors the chance to indulge in more extreme winter sports too. The Palù slopes feature a snow park for lovers of snowboarding and freestyle skiing, and a piste has also been built to accommodate spectacular boardercross and skicross events.
Many well-kept paths are available for cross-country skiers too. On top of the 17km natural piste around Palù lake at 2000 m.a.s.l., there are also the circuits at San Giuseppe and Lanzada, which brings the overall pistes to almost 40km.
Lovers of Alpine skiing also have many itineraries to choose from, from the glaciers of the Bernina and Disgrazia, the glacier at Scerscen and another on Pizzo Scalino. The routes are easily identifiable and feature numerous cabins, offering respite to weary skiers.
There’s an embarrassment of riches for cyclists too, who find that the Valmalenco has paths that vary in difficulty, offering more or less strenuous climbs, paved tarmac and dirt track options. If you come unprepared, you can still rent a bike in the Vassalini area from the offices of the Consorzio Turistico Sondrio e Valmalenco(Tourism office of Sondrio and Valmalenco). You can also organize trips with expert guides and request bike shuttles to get you to the places you want to visit.
There are also a few options for those who enjoy climbing, with assorted levels based on experience.
The Valmalencodeserves to be recognized as the land of hiking trails, with vast numbers of cabins to welcome travellers and great diversity in the levels of hiking difficulty. These attract tourists from around the world, for example to attempt the Alta Via course we previously mentioned. But it would be remiss not to mention the Rusca path, starting from Sondrio that reaches all the way to the Swiss border and beyond, while traversing the Valmalenco. It is primarily a pedestrian route, apart from the initial climb from Sondrio to Chiesa in Valmalenco which is also ideal for cyclists. The overall length is around 32km and well signposted. It would normally require around two days’ walk of around 12 hours each before arriving at the Muretto pass. It’s a breath-taking experience, taking you through the natural wonders of mountain pastures, green meadows and wooded areas.
Watersports enthusiasts and thrill seekers will really appreciate the opportunity afforded in the upper part of the valley, where canyoning trips are organized on the Cormor torrent, that in part runs underground, mixing the skills of hiking with watersports(https://www.valmalencoalpina.com/english.html). This glacial torrent is a favourite location for aficionados of the sport from all across Europe.
And finally, we would like to recommend the Valmalenco Ultra Trail Distance, or VUT (http://ultravalmalenco.com/en), which can be undertaken as part of a relay or individually following the Alta Via trail. The course is around 90km long, crests mountain peaks 4 times meaning a total overall height difference of 6000m during the event, which is peppered with cabins offering assistance. Over the last few years, extensive efforts have been made to make sure the VUT has been completely plastic free.
What can we add about this valley? Nature has gifted us the possibility of visiting alpine glaciers, lakes and peaks, we have to wherewithal to enjoy sports, both in summer and winter, and over the years the local population have become well-versed in the tourism, offering food, accommodation and family-friendly fun. There are numerous gastronomic experiences and guest accommodation options of all types, including opportunities to rent. The Valmalencohas something for everybody, experts and beginners, families and friends, and this is why you should consider buying or renting a home or a more rustic chalet, not forgetting the possibility of short-lets, in this amazing place.
Now it’s time to discover it together. See the available offers on our website.
Live the mountain life!
