Sondrio between Mountain Culture and Alpine Nature
Accommodation in Sondrio
In Sondrio, the Sentiero dei ricordi begins at the Museo Valtellinese di Storia e Arte and leads to the most important archaeological sites and rock art sites in the municipality. In winter, Val Cervia is a popular area for ski touring and ski mountaineering. In and around Sondrio, cultural trails, alpine landscapes and a clearly defined winter activity come together.
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Nature
The Province of Sondrio contains one national park, one regional park, seven regional nature reserves, two natural monuments, three local parks of supra-municipal interest and numerous Natura 2000 sites. These protected areas include Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio and Parco Regionale delle Orobie Valtellinesi.
A large part of the territory of the Province of Sondrio lies at elevations above 2,000 metres. At lower elevations, meadows and coniferous forests give way to alpine grasslands, scree fields and extensive glacial areas. Deer, ibex and chamois can be observed in the protected landscapes; with a little luck, bearded vultures and golden eagles can also be seen.
Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi encompasses the northern side of this mountain range, which is considered a link between the Lombard Alps and Prealps and is rich in endemic species and untouched areas of landscape. The Bosco dei Bordighi nature reserve, which stretches along the Adda, is located near Sondrio. It can be reached on foot or by bicycle via the Sentiero Valtellina towards Tirano. The paths in Bosco dei Bordighi are predominantly flat, equipped and marked; the area is one of the few remaining floodplain forests on the Adda floodplain.
Culture
CAST is a narrative museum dedicated to mountain culture within the walls of Castello Masegra. Its themes include climbing, mountaineering and the environment. Also located in Castello Masegra, MuMiVV displays mineral collections from Valtellina and Valchiavenna. Palazzo Sassi de'Lavizzari houses MVSA, with six departments dedicated to the history and artistic expressions of the entire Valtellina.
MVSA is accessible to wheelchair users and has a completely accessible building without architectural barriers. It offers studios and creative workshops for children, guided tours for adults and special programmes for people with disabilities.
Castello Masegra also contains a Renaissance camera picta with a fresco cycle depicting Ariosto's Orlando furioso. Santuario della Madonna della Sassella is a 15th-century sanctuary on a rocky spur on the outskirts of Sondrio. Its frescoes are attributed to Andrea de Passeris and dated to 1511.
Scarpatetti is an old farming quarter. Its rural houses preserve typical wooden balconies and stone “involt”. On the climb through Scarpatetti to Castello Masegra stand three small Marian chapels that bear witness to popular devotion. Around the historic Piazza Quadrivio, Palazzo Sertoli forms part of an architecturally and artistically significant complex of around three interconnected palaces.
Trails and Activities
Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi encompasses fourteen valleys with trails ranging from flat stretches to steep, challenging paths. Via dei Terrazzamenti offers a different route: the 70-kilometre walking trail connects Morbegno and Tirano and can be walked in both directions from Sondrio.
Sentiero Valtellina is a 114-kilometre cycling and walking trail. It runs from Colico to Bormio along the Adda River and is intended for pedestrians and cyclists as an environmentally friendly, non-motorised mobility route for leisure and recreation. Near Sondrio, the trail is well equipped, has many rest areas and runs almost entirely on dedicated cycle paths.
Rafting, kayaking and hydrospeed are possible on the Adda River between Piateda and Castione Andevenno. This section is also suitable for less experienced participants.
Connections
The SS38 dello Stelvio state road runs through Morbegno, Sondrio and Tirano onwards to Bormio and the Stelvio Pass. A provincial road also leads from Sondrio into Valmalenco.
For the wider regional selection, the following places are available: Santa Caterina Valfurva, Torre Di Santa Maria, Aprica, Oga, Valdisotto, Valfurva, Bianzone, Campodolcino, Caspoggio, Sernio, Pedenosso Valdidentro, Montespluga and Teglio.
Other linked destinations include Bormio, Chiesa In Valmalenco, Livigno, Trepalle, Madesimo, San Carlo, Rasura, Valdidentro, Tirano and Stazzona.
For the higher-level travel overview: Lombardy.
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