Alpine Beaches between Sondrio and Como

In Lombardy, there’s no need to go to the lakes to enjoy the beach. Between the provinces of Sondrio and Como, streams, rivers and waterfalls cross woods and alpine valleys, forming crystal clear wells, pebble bays and green spots where you can spend time on warmer days.

We could call these alpine or mountain beaches. It’s not because they are at high altitudes, but because they frame cool, clear water courses that begin in the mountains and come together to form surprising pools of water. You will come across these beaches, fragmented and never in the same place, on a hike. Some of them appear suddenly at the foot of a waterfall, while others are only found after going upstream, between little fords and woodland paths. Here are five fantastic locations for summer in close contact with nature.