Boirolo (Tresivio), S.Stefano, Alpe Rogneda, Bocchetta di Mara - ritorno a Boirolo

The Pyramids of earth: a fascinating proof of the power of nature.

Valmalenco

Over the years, Bianzone in Valtellina has become a go-to location for paragliding enthusiasts. With its ideal conditions for take off, it offers a unique opportunity for those who want an experience with an adrenaline rush and at the same time, the feel of the freedom between the earth and the sky.    Taking off at some 1.620 metres, paragliding from Bianzone allows you to fly over the whole valley, with spectacular views of the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Tirano and the area’s typical terraced vineyards. The experience lasts for 15-20 minutes. It takes just a little courage and a short sprint that will leave you, almost suddenly, in flight. From there, you can enjoy the panorama, as you glide gently, or if you are feeling a little more daring, while you try out acrobatics in the air.  The generally good weather conditions in the area, with stable currents and gentle winds, make this a privileged starting point for free flight. Even on cooler days, the air is crisp and crystal clear, offering perfect visibility for admiring the countryside below. This activity is also available to people with no experience, thanks to the possibility to fly in tandem with professional pilots, who will help them experience paragliding in complete safety. Flight has become increasingly important in Bianzone, being seen not just as a sport but also as an opportunity to get together, and the first edition of the Festival del Volo [Festival of Flight], held in 2024, is vibrant evidence of this. Promoted by the municipality and by different local associations and volunteers, the Festival attracts the spectators and sports enthusiasts, transforming the town into a meeting point between the sky and the earth, adrenaline and relaxation.     

In Valtellina, where the River Adda flows forcefully between the rock walls and through the dense woods, there is a way to experience the water as a protagonist: hydrospeed.   This activity combines sport, adventure and immersion in the landscape - the perfect experience if you are seeking authentic contact with nature and a touch of adrenaline. Unlike other water activities, such as rafting or canoeing, hydrospeed literally catapults you into the water, giving you an up-close, dynamic viewpoint of current, spray, and speed. This is an adventure that requires the right technical equipment: wetsuit, helmet, life jacket, flippers and of course, the hydrospeed, a compact, easy-handle float that helps you maintain your stability and direction as you descend.  Once you are ready, you can access one of the selected entrance points along the Adda. The section chosen for this activity is about five kilometres long with smoother sections that have basic-level rapids that are perfect for those making their first approach to this sport. The current is lively but not extreme, meaning you can focus on your balance and orientation and on controlling your body in the water.  The landscape along the route adds to the whole experience. Wild green views open out around the water course, with woods and rocks on the banks and some passages under small bridges or alongside farmland. You will breathe in the cool mountain air and experience the full power of the current. 

Hamlet of St. Anthony

Crap de La Paré, over two thousand metres above the Eira Pass, offers one of the most spectacular panoramas over the Livigno Valley. In winter, the route to the peak is transformed into a white slope that winds its way through the snow-covered larches and pines with the frozen lake on one side, and the majestic mountains on the other.   Snowmobile trips will take you across the open spaces and into more sheltered sections. It is a different way for you to explore the area, experiencing the thrill of speed and at the same time, enjoying the peaceful silence, broken only by the sound of your engine. Organised tours can last from 15 to 45 minutes, for a taste of adrenaline in the snowy surroundings. Every curve offers new views, of the calm lake, the snow-capped peaks, and on to the silent woods and gentle slopes. When you arrive in Crap de La Paré, you can enjoy the sight of the whole valley of Livigno and its lake, framed by the mountains. It is one of the most stunning panoramas of the Upper Valtellina, where the vastness of the landscape offers a feeling of unique freedom. Switch off your engine and the world suddenly falls silent, as the wind caresses your face and the crisp air fills you with pure energy. This is an immersive excursion, an opportunity to discover the different pace of the mountains in winter, where you can enjoy the power of nature and the charm of the valley from a whole new perspective. From the first few metres to the peak, the snowmobile turns your trip into an adventure, so you can enjoy the snow up close, safely, in a way accessible to everyone, whether beginners or experts who are curious about the mountains.   

Among the snowy trails of Valtellina is a slower, more magical way to discover the mountains, but no less adventurous for that: horse-drawn sleigh. In Livigno, this is a classic winter experience, able to offer anyone the authentic pleasure of close contact with nature. Wrapped in warm blankets, you get comfy in your sleigh and set off to enjoy panoramic that change with every bend.    As the horses advance over the compact snow, the route winds its way across clearings, larch woods and endless expanses of white. The sleigh glides silently onwards, offering views of Livigno, isolated mountain huts and profiles of mountains standing out against the horizon. It is an experience that joins movement and contemplation, perfect for those of you seeking quiet but without missing out on the thrill of an authentic adventure. The rides last half an hour and are child friendly, making this an ideal experience for the whole family. Livigno becomes the ideal backdrop for enjoying this experience. The fairy-tale setting of a mountain village seems to slow down the passage of time, and every detail reflects something of life at high altitudes. From your sleigh, you can admire the city and its snowy woods and meadows, looking at everything from a unique perspective.  At the end of the route, there is a stop off in a mountain hut, offering a warm fire, the smell of wood and mulled wine, and typical dishes from the area.  

Rhaetic Alps

The castle that overlooks Sondrio, erected in a strategic position at the entrance of the Valmalenco valley, is the only military structure in Sondrio of medieval origin to have reached modern times intact and is still in use, although over the centuries its function has changed. Its architectural structure also changed, leading it to the heterogeneous and stratified aspect it has today, so that Masegra Castle provides us with a visible cross section of the past 700 years of history in Valtellina. Its history is complex. Originally a medieval castle, the seat of the feudal lords known as the Capitanei, rulers of Sondrio, it was damaged and rebuilt many times, especially in the thirteen and fourteenth centuries. In the 15th and 16th century it served as the elegant seat of the Beccaria family, heirs to the Capitanei. Towards the end of the century, it was ceded to the powerful Grison clan of the Salis Soglio, who, following the grievous and sanguinary events of the two decades that opened with the so-called “Holy Slaughter”, turned it into a flourishing agricultural estate. It was seized and returned to its military function as a garrison with the territory’s annexation by Napoleon and finally, after World War II, it became a military post. Today, the castle complex is owned by the municipality. Features of particular note include the Renaissance camera picta in the dovecote tower, whose umbrella vaulted ceiling is decorated with a beautiful cycle of frescoes depicting scenes from Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso.

Exactly halfway between the Curò Refuge and the Vivione Pass; the Tagliaferri Refuge presents itself as an ideal intermediate stop on the Antonio Curò Nature Trail. The area is protected by the Riserva Faunistico-Venatoria Valbelviso-Barbellino (Valbelviso-Barbellino Wildlife Reserve) and is very interesting for the variety of animals, plants and the many small lakes scattered on the surrounding mountain slopes. The itinerary starts at high altitude from the Curò Refuge (see special itinerary to reach it) and skirts Lake Barbellino for a few minutes until it meets on the right the stream that descends from Val Cerviera (wooden bridge). From here you go uphill skirting the waterfalls and then follow a section of the valley that leads to another steeper section that allows you to cross a rock jump graced by a waterfall. You are now on a wide plateau (2234 m - detour to the right for the Cerviera Valley lakes).Instead, you face another steep section on the left (east) and, below, continue to the watershed with Val Bondione. Cross the head of this (junction with trail 322 coming up from Lizzola) to the Bondione Pass (2633 m) and descend a little into the upper Gleno Valley.Climb up to Passo di Belviso (2518 m) meeting trail 410 coming from Bueggio and, descending first on the Valtellina side and then returning to the Scalvino side, cross trail 413 and in a few minutes you are at Rifugio Tagliaferri (2328 m).

What to visit in Lombardy: guide to the most important places and places.