The Horse Chestnut of Arzo

Historically, Valtellina was divided into three parts called terzieri (to which was added the County of Bormio). The geopolitical center of the Terziere Inferiore was Morbegno, which today is a charming town, second in population to the province.

Over the centuries it has been an important commercial crossroads, thanks to its location at the base of the Bitto Valleys and the San Marco Pass. Driving up the state road leading to the latter, one crosses the small village of Arzo with its 17th-century church of San Giovanni Battista. In front of the religious building it is impossible not to notice a beautiful crotto topped by a majestic Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum).

With its vast and luxuriant foliage, consisting of the characteristic large leaves composed of 5 or 7 laminae, it provides shade to the tables where, while enjoying traditional dishes, one enjoys the fascinating tangle of branches. The specimen has a trunk with a circumference of 3.60 meters (diameter 115 cm) and a height of nearly 20 meters. Sitting at its feet you can also admire the view of the lower reaches of the Valtellina, where the Adda River creates fertile valley floor areas (Pian di Spagna) before flowing into the Lario.

Green monument freely visitable.

(Ph: Luca Pernechele)