From the lakeside promenade in the characteristic small town of Porto Ceresio on the new cycle track and gravel tracks, the route then starts to climb through the Unesco area’s most important fossil sites on Monte San Giorgio. After a few sections through trenches and spectacular panoramas it then continues to Sasso Caldo, where the Besanosaurus, one of the world’s most important fossils, was found.Across the historic border between Italy and Switzerland it descends into the latter as far as Meride, a beautiful pristine town and site of a fossil museum which was renovated and enlarged in 2012 by architect Mario Botta.The return journey is on an educational footpath which returns to Cà del Monte and Besano for a visit to the museum on the Italian side. Point of interest: Siti fossiliferi miniere di piombo e argento museo dei fossili di Meride e Besano trincee della linea Cadorna BIKE: E-bike, MTB, full

Santa Maria dei Mosconi has been for long times è stata per lungo tempo punto di riferimento per pastori, viandanti e cavatori delle miniere di ferro. La chiesa di Santa Caterina sorge lontano dalle abitazioni e domina la valle dall'alto di un terrazzamento sostenuto da possenti muraglioni.

    Closed in 1972 and reopened in 1999, this exciting route into the depths of the mountain deserves the distinction of opening our tour of the valley. It is part of the "Via del Ferro e delle Miniere" itinerary.   Before entering the Mine, visitors are shown a video to help introduce them to the geological environment of mining life, through evocative images and sounds that will enrich their sensory experience. Equipped with safety helmets, they will then be escorted into the historical atmosphere of the mine and along ancient, long-abandoned tunnels, aboard a characteristic yellow train. Here, expert guides will illustrate the features of the mining site and explain mineral-excavating methods and the harsh working conditions miners were forced to endure. Glimpses of dark shapes in the side tunnels will make the trip even more evocative.Our next step is to visit the museum dedicated to mining and ironworking, another stop on the "Via del Ferro e delle Minere" itinerary of Val Trompia's museum network. Housed in a building that was once reserved for production activities and mine employees, the museum consists of two sections: one dedicated to detailing the historical and scientific realities of the local mining industry, the other to the iron works of sculptor Vittorio Piotti (1935-2000).   (Ph: panorama.it)

La Val Trompia is a new and pleasant tourist destination, to be discovered!

Discover the secrets of Lombardy's mines: history, culture, mystery, and trade in the heart of the mountains

A journey between history and nature

Mine valley Historically devoted to iron extraction and manufacturing, Trompia Valley is a land of mines, foundries, and forges moved by impetuous mountain creeks. The connection between the valley and the city of Brescia is promoted by the Iron and Mine Route, an itinerary that will lead you to areas that have not yet been discovered by mass tourism. This is an interesting visit that includes forests, plateaus, adventure parks, typical trattorias, ski slopes, and long high-mountain trekking trails. A charming activity is taking a small train to visit the Marzoli Mine in Pezzaze, open all year round. An alternative experience in the summer is the fun trekking trail inside the Sant’Aloisio Mine in Collio, a thrilling itinerary of 2.5km (about 2 hours) in the heart of the mountain. cts Youth Point – Via N. Tommaseo 2/a – 25128 Brescia (BS)  Telefono + 39 030.8337495 / 030.2809556  cup@cm.valletrompia.it  http://www.laviadelferro.it

Explore Lombardy with your children! Experiential and interactive museums to stimulate curiosity and creativity.

The green stones of Valmalenco, which have been extracted and worked for centuries, were and still are an important part of the social, cultural and economical life of this area rooted in a centuries-old craft tradition passed down from father to son. The natural stone wall that used to separate the basin of Chiesa from the higher valley was given the name "Giovello".  During the Middle Ages somebody noticed that the surfacing rocks were made up of very thin slabs. The inhabitants, who were already skilled at carving in the local iron caves, tested the first carving and working tecniques of Serpentinite schist.  The enormous volume of debris that covers the whole area is the scrap material coming from the several underground caves. Hundres of humble and stubborn men, united in original corporations called "companies". For centuries, those men set out at dawn to reach the caves and carry out the arduous mining and stone braking works.  The end product is the "pioda" of Valmalenco that, thanks to its unique physical and mechanical features, its durability and beauty, is widely used for roof coverings. The manual production phases of the "pioda" remained unchanged over the centuries.  The area of the old "giovello" was abandoned at the end of the Eighties and is currently the core of an enhancement project which provides for paths renewal, descriptive signs placement, the restoration of a workshop and of a mine, which will become a museum. The result will be an itinerary which allows visitors to plunge into the roots of a tradition that has deeply influeced social and economical life in Valmalenco. 

Fossils and nature

Be ready for a great vacation in Val Trompia to discover natural treasures amidst huts and trails winding down the forest in Zone and reaching up to mounts Guglielmo and Maniva.

Val Brembana, Valseriana, Val di Scalve and Valle Imagna: a family-friendly holiday in the valleys of the Bergamasque Alps