• Mountains
    • Active & Green

The thousand-year-old larch in Valmalenco

Where
Sentiero del Larice Millenario, Valle Ventina, Chiesa in Valmalenco (SO)

The Valmalenco, in the heart of the Rhaetian Alps, creeps towards the Bernina Massif to reach the almost 4,000 metres of the highest peaks in Lombardy.

 

In a rich and varied alpine environment, one encounters unique trees. Especially surprising are some very old larches. Centuries of life are often attributed to arboreal specimens, but there is no real scientific data about them. In Valmalenco, on the other hand, specific dendrochronological analyses were carried out, based on the coring of the trunk and the direct counting of growth rings on the samples taken. It is really exciting to discover that a larch (Larix decidua) in Val Ventina was born in the year 1007. It is the oldest scientifically dated tree in the Alps.

Accessible via a special trail, which starts at the Gerli Porro lodge (1965 m a.s.l.), the thousand-year-old specimen lives at an altitude of almost 2200 metres, in front of Monte Disgrazia (3678 m a.s.l.). It is amazing to think that the larch was already centuries old when historical events such as the discovery of America took place. Nestled between boulders, its ancient trunk has a circumference of 2.70 metres (diameter 85 cm) and a height of 16 metres. Raised in a harsh environment, near the Ventina Glacier, despite its age it did not reach a large size. Surrounded by an impressive alpine landscape, it is an exceptional treasure trove of trees to be discovered.

A green monument that is accessible to the public.

 

(Ph: Marco Fumagalli)
 
Take me here: The thousand-year-old larch in Valmalenco

Places

Rif. Ventina 1960m

Alpe Ventina
  • Mountains
Rif. Ventina 1960m
282 mt

Rif. Gerli Porro 1960 m

Alpe Ventina
  • Mountains
Riproduzione riservata
481 mt

Geological Park in Chiareggio

The geological park in Chiareggio allows you to discover the geological secrets of the entire Alpine arc.
  • Parks
Chiareggio
2.48 km

Marmots Park in Chiareggio

  • Parks
Marmotte di Chiareggio
2.48 km

Valmalenco Bernina Ski Resort

Raggiungi l’Alpe Palù a bordo della funivia più grande del mondo, tra esperienze romantiche e adrenalina pura.
  • Sport
Valmalenco Bernina Ski Resort
3.21 km

Lake Palù

  • Active & Green
Lake Palù
3.21 km

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Alpini

  • Art & Culture
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Alpini
3.21 km

The thousand-year-old larch

The thousand-year-old larch still is the oldest tree, of ascertained age, present in Italy.
  • Active & Green
The thousand-year-old larch
3.21 km

Rif. Tartaglione Crispo 1800m

Forbicina
  • Mountains
Rifugio Tartaglione
3.21 km

The shelters

  • Mountains
The shelters
3.21 km

Church of St. Anthony

  • Art & Culture
Church of St. Anthony
3.21 km

Rif. Del Grande Camerini 2600m

Bocchetta Piattè di Vazzeda
  • Mountains
Rif. Del Grande Camerini 2600m
3.29 km

Rif. Longoni 2450m

Sassa d'Entova
  • Mountains
Rif. Longoni 2450m
4.66 km

Sanctuary in Primolo

  • Art & Culture
Sanctuary in Primolo
5.59 km

The ancient "Giovello"

  • Parks
The ancient "Giovello"
5.6 km

Rhaetian Alps

Valmalenco is embraced by majestic peaks, such as Mount Disgrazia, Piz Bernina, Piz Scalino
  • Mountains
Rhaetian Alps
6.27 km

Church of Saint Emily

  • Art & Culture
Church of Saint Emily
6.29 km

Bike rental - Rent Bike Palù

  • Active & Green
Bike rental - Rent Bike Palù
6.37 km

Rif. Bosio Galli 2086m

Alpe Airale
  • Mountains
Rif. Bosio Galli 2086m
6.67 km

Rifugio Lago Palù 1965m

Alpe Palù
  • Mountains
Rifugio Lago Palù - riproduzione riservata
6.74 km

Activities

Hydrospeed Fun

  • Active & Green
Hydrospeed Fun
13.85 km

River Sup - Superhero

  • Active & Green
River Sup - Superhero
13.85 km

River Sup - Superman

  • Active & Green
River Sup - Superman
13.85 km

Kayak Fun - Boater Xtreme

  • Active & Green
Kayak Fun - Boater Xtreme
13.85 km

Kayak Fun - Survival X

  • Active & Green
Kayak Fun - Survival X
13.85 km

Kayak Fun - Into the Wild

  • Active & Green
Kayak Fun - Into the Wild
13.85 km

Hydrospeed Extreme: Are You Ready For a True Challenge?

  • Active & Green
Hydrospeed Extreme: Are You Ready For a True Challenge?
13.85 km

Hydrospeed Adrenaline: Upgrade to The Next Level

  • Active & Green
Hydrospeed Adrenaline: Upgrade to The Next Level
13.85 km

2RunDoubleFun: The Best Rafting Experience

  • Active & Green
2RunDoubleFun: The Best Rafting Experience
13.85 km

Adrenaline Rafting: Master the Waters

  • Active & Green
Adrenaline Rafting: Master the Waters
13.85 km

ExtremeFun Rafting Adventure

  • Active & Green
ExtremeFun Rafting Adventure
13.85 km

Where to sleep

RIFUGIO GERLI PORRO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
RIFUGIO GERLI PORRO
305 mt

RIFUGIO VENTINA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
RIFUGIO VENTINA
333 mt

RIFUGIO TARTAGLIONE - CRISPO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
RIFUGIO TARTAGLIONE - CRISPO
1.81 km

GEMBRO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
GEMBRO
1.98 km

PIAN DEL LUPO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
PIAN DEL LUPO
1.98 km

CHALET TANA DEL GRILLO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
CHALET TANA DEL GRILLO
1.98 km

B&B Il Cortese di Merizzi Piergiacomo

Chiesa in Valmalenco
B&B Il Cortese di Merizzi Piergiacomo
1.98 km

GENZIANA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
GENZIANA
1.98 km

CHIAREGGIO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
CHIAREGGIO
1.98 km

APPARTAMENTO VIA S. PIETRO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
APPARTAMENTO VIA S. PIETRO
3.21 km

RIFUGIO DEL GRANDE CAMERINI

Chiesa in Valmalenco
RIFUGIO DEL GRANDE CAMERINI
3.35 km

BRACIASCO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
BRACIASCO
4.41 km

SASSO NERO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
SASSO NERO
4.41 km

SAN GIUSEPPE

Chiesa in Valmalenco
SAN GIUSEPPE
4.41 km

RIFUGIO LONGONI

Chiesa in Valmalenco
RIFUGIO LONGONI
4.64 km

LA LANTERNA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
LA LANTERNA
5.92 km

LA BETULLA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
LA BETULLA
5.97 km

PIZZO SCALINO RESIDENCE

Chiesa in Valmalenco
PIZZO SCALINO RESIDENCE
5.97 km

PIGNA D'ORO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
PIGNA D'ORO
5.98 km

GENZIANELLA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
GENZIANELLA
6.05 km