In the shadow of the most imposing peak of the Orobie Valtellinesi, Pizzo di Coca (3050 m), the itinerary unfolds in the shady Val d'Arigna and is dotted with suggestions, both religious and cultural.

Not to mention that the 10 monitored glaciers make Val d'Arigna the most glaciated area in the Orobie Valtellinesi. Protagonist of the highly committed hike is the figure of St. Stephen who, before suffering martyrdom by stoning, also passed through Valtellina for the work of evangelization.

On the Orobic side he departed from the village of Castello dell'Acqua, ascending the mountains to find refuge, taking flight to reach places of meditation, as legend has it. Today the saint's traces are visible in place names such as the Lower Lake of Santo Stefano and the pass of the same name at 2693 m, but also on the marks imprinted on some rocks where legend has it that the saint had placed his feet and the "cazzet" he used to curdle milk, received as alms.

The strenuoushike starts from Briotti (1049 m), gateway to the Orobie Valtellinesi Park, a hamlet of the municipality of Ponte in Valtellina, where Santo Stefano undertook the last stretch of the walk. Take trail number 265 to Prati di Torre (1145 m) and Baite Bernè (1310 m), then enter a cool forest. When you reach Baita Spanone (1559 m) stop to look for a new footprint of the saint placed on a rock.

Following to the right towards Bocchetta di Santo Stefano, you touch the Zocc de li Möli, at the foot of the dam, come across the small church of Santo Stefano (1848 m) and climb up towards Lago di Sopra (2124 m). On this route, you catch a glimpse of Middle Lake (1936 m) on the left as you walk up the steep slope to Bocchetta (2378 m). From here the view sweeps seamlessly over the glacial balconies that house the three lakes, glimpsing the Adamello and Cevedale mountain groups, the Bernina and Badile massifs, and Monte Rosa in the distance.

On the opposite side of the Bocchetta, a valley descends to the Armisola Alp, while just above the Lago Inferiore (2139 m) a path branches off on the left hydrographic side that leads in just under an hour to the Gino and Massimo hut in Grioni (1850 m). From the refuge for the descent to Briotti via Armisola (trail 267) one can take the forest track that passes through Paiosa (1160 m) and descends to the former Gaggio decauville; alternatively the trail that touches Mason di Sopra (1412 m), Le Piane (1240 m) and from there to Briotti.