Chiesa in Valmalenco is located in the province of Sondrio, just 24 km away. In winter, it delights tourists with its 60 km of slopes in the Palù Ski Area, while in summer, it becomes the hub of mountaineering and, above all, hiking in the area.
Let's not forget that Chiesa in Valmalenco is located a stone's throw from the marvelous Orobie Valtellinesi Park , whose dense broadleaf forests are populated by a lively fauna consisting of birds of prey, ibex, chamois, roe deer and deer.
Summer in Chiesa in Valmalenco
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Chiesa in Valmalenco is a charming Lombard municipality in the province of Sondrio, located at the exact confluence of the Lanterna and Mallero rivers: it is also located where the valley at the foot of Mount Disgrazia, 3678 m high, separates from the Lanterna Valley, which extends up to Pizzo Bernina (4050 m high).
Chiesa in Valmalenco is located in the heart of Valmalenco , a beautiful side valley of the well-known Valtellina and is crossed by the Mallero stream: all around stand spectacular peaks, part of the Western Rhaetian Alps, the Bernina Alps, the Bernina Massif, the Scalino Group and the mountains of Val Bregaglia.
Discover the best offers to spend a summer holiday in the best alpine chalets and cabins in the Dolomites, the best structures immersed in the heart of the Dolomites with a typical alpine style
Valmalenco is a word whose origins are still uncertain today: there are theories that refer to the Celtic mal en ga which literally means “head squeezed by water” , while others bring to light dark legends that tell of a so-called valley of evil located in the shadow of terrifying mountains.
In reality, the landscape of Chiesa in Valmalenco, especially in summer , is truly enchanting and lush, dominated by the clarity of the alpine lakes, the green of the pastures and forests, and even the blinding white of the high-altitude glaciers. There's no shortage of historical sites in and around Chiesa in Valmalenco, particularly the quarries for the soapstone (a type of serpentine) mentioned even in Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia .
In the crisp, healthy mountain air of Valmalenco, it's impossible not to indulge in sports such as fishing in the Alpe Gera and Campo Moro basins. Canyoning is possible in the Scerscen stream, as part of the Gola Up trail in Lanzada, while free climbing enthusiasts can head to the cliffs of Val Poschiavina, Campo Moro, Torrione Porro, or Sentinella della Vergine.
In Chiesa in Valmalenco, summer excursions are a must, not only on foot, but also by mountain bike or on horseback . For example, Alpine Equitation is located at the entrance to the Orobie Park and organizes trips along the route between Albosaggia and San Bernardo, crossing a mule track immersed in broadleaf forests. An alternative is the route connecting Albosaggia and Lake Casera, where you can ride with Monte Disgrazia and Pizzo Bernina in the background.
Cycling enthusiasts can ride at the Palù Bike Park or along the Sentiero Rusca cycle and pedestrian path , which, for 32 km, connects Chiesa in Valmalenco to Sondrio. This is a truly pleasant route, pedaling through terraced vineyards and along the Mallero River. The Sentiero Rusca also allows you to reach the Muretto Pass, which once connected the Engadine to the Valtellina, along a more challenging stretch.
In Chiesa in Valmalenco, summers are pleasant and never too hot, making it a pleasure to explore small villages like the hamlet of Primolo , located at 1300 meters above sea level. Here stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie , dating back to the 12th century, whose bell tower can be seen from virtually the entire valley. In addition to this place of worship, which is credited with miracles and miraculous graces, the beautiful Parish of Saints Giacomo and Filippo is also worth a visit . The oldest part of the church, founded by the Capitanei of Sondrio, dates back to the 11th century.
In the Sasso district, however, lies the bucolic Pineta di Serleveggio , which can be reached by following the road that starts from the historic Grand Hotel Malenco: it feels like finding yourself in an enchanted forest, with moss covering every rock, streams spanned by small wooden bridges, stone fountains and benches, in an atmosphere reminiscent of those magical lands populated by gnomes and fairies.
In Caspoggio, however, you'll find the Fattoria La Foppa , where you can meet the alpacas, who have been living here for over 10 years. These docile animals often accompany tourists on walks in the pastures, while their wool is processed in an entirely ecological way to produce gloves, scarves, hats, and sweaters of excellent quality.
Among the must-sees during a summer vacation in Chiesa in Valmalenco is the Bagnada Mineralogical Museum : located in nearby Lanzada, it still bears witness to the strong connection between man and nature. Talc, quartz, and pyrite were once mined here, and their workings are perfectly recreated inside the open-air galleries, with the sound of dripping water making the experience even more exciting for both adults and children.
In addition to the galleries, you can visit the Mining Museum with lots of objects from the past daily life of the area and the Mineralogical Museum, which preserves a rich collection of minerals extracted in the Valmalenco.
Anyone who decides to spend a holiday in Chiesa in Valmalenco cannot fail to visit the nearby city of Sondrio , with its historic buildings such as Palazzo Sertoli with its baroque Salone dei Balli, the 11th-century Palazzo Pretorio (home to the Valtellinese Museum of History and Art) and Villa Quadrio.
Do not miss the Camera Picta, frescoed with scenes from Orlando Furioso, inside Castel Masegra, but above all Castel Grumello: it is a twin castle, i.e. formed by two buildings connected by a sort of wall masonry.
One of the most characteristic places in Sondrio is the popular district, in particular Via Scarpatetti, where you can see ancient stone balconies, votive aedicules such as that of the Madonna dell'uva, cobbled courtyards and intimate stone arches.
What to do and what to see
Summer is the perfect season for organizing excursions far and wide, discovering both well-known and lesser-known spots, and Lake Palù is one of them. Rising at 1921 meters above sea level, it is one of the most enchanting lakes in all of Lombardy, its crystal-clear, swimmable waters reflecting Mount Disgrazia and the Valmalenco Alps, particularly the Sasso Nero.
It can be reached by chairlift, with the Snow Eagle which leaves from Chiesa in Valmalenco, or on foot, on a path that can be easily followed even by the little ones. It starts from the Barchi refuge, passes by the Motta refuge and the nearby panoramic terrace with a view of the valley and the Orobie mountains, and then continues among blueberry bushes and typically alpine flora up to the lake. A path allows you to circumnavigate the natural basin, on whose banks you can stop for a picnic in the shade of the coniferous forest.
A stone's throw from Chiesa in Valmalenco is the splendid Scerscen Valley , located at the foot of the Bernina Group, the Sasso Nero, the Monte delle Forbici, the Caspoggio glacier and the Scerscen glaciers.
Visiting the valley offers the opportunity to visit the Alpine Cemetery , marked by a simple plaque and dedicated to those who were swept away by an avalanche while crossing the glacier to the Marinelli Refuge. Also not to be missed are the Scerscen Caves , karst cavities that are of great mineralogical and geological interest to experts. Of all the caves, the most accessible to visitors is the 150-meter-long Veronica Cave.
From Franscia, a small hamlet of Lanzada, you can reach the monumental Campo Moro reservoir : to get there, you have to pass hairpin bends, long, dark tunnels, and the Campo Moro refuges on a route with Alpe Gera in the background. This artificial reservoir consists of two so-called gravity dams, with a large rocky spur dividing them: with a spectacular drop of 1000 m, the waters flow, through conduits and tunnels, into the Lanzada power plant.
To feed the Campo Moro basin is the Gera dam, which collects the waters that flow from the glaciers of Scerscen di Fellaria. The dam can be reached starting from the Bignami refuge, on a path that passes through Alpe Gebrè at 2051 m. of height.
Among the most beautiful excursions to do in Chiesa in Valmalenco is the one that leads from Alpe Largone to the Mufulè lake, surrounded by firs, larches and mountain pines. Pizzo Scalino dominates the lake, which can be reached by following paths 350 and 349 which allow you to pass through the Campo Moro dams.
From Chiareggio, however, path no. 323 leads to Alpe Ventina : it follows the Mallero stream up to the Ventina and Gerli-Poggio refuges, located on the mountain pasture at approximately 2000 meters above sea level. Two other interesting trails depart from Alpe Ventina: the Vittorio Sella Glaciological Trail to Ventina and the Millenary Larch Trail , which takes hikers up to an altitude of 2100 meters, where a larch tree believed to date back to at least 1007 AD.
In Valmalenco, there are other hikes to do, such as the one to the Barchi Refuge at 20268 m, to Alpe Camoscio and the nearby Cristina Refuge, or the Sentiero Roma . This 54 km trail passes through Val Codera, Val Masino, and of course Valmalenco: it walks in the shadow of Monte Disgrazia, Cima di Castello, Cima di Zocca, and Badile, and can be completed in five stages.
Don't forget that Chiesa in Valmalenco is located just a stone's throw from the legendary Alta Via della Valmalenco : this is a high-altitude hike that, along its 110 km, almost always takes place at around 2000 m above sea level, passing through refuges, soapstone quarries, mountain huts, and wild flora. The Alta Via della Valmalenco touches some of the most scenic spots in the valley, from the Conca di Chiareggio to the Valle dello Scerscen, all the way to Lake Palù and Campo Moro.
Holidays
Chiesa in Valmalenco and more generally Valmalenco in the summer become a real universe to discover, among lakes, pastures, mountain passes and towns.
In a longer period of time, you can treat yourself to a walk through the shops of the inhabited centers to buy some artifact made of soapstone, today decorated by the craftsmen, by hand and in a truly excellent way.
In two weeks, rather than always having a frugal lunch or dinner so as not to waste precious time, it is possible to stop in one of the many refuges in the valley and discover the tasty local cuisine.
Don't miss the pizzoccheri, polenta taragna, salmon trout, sciatt stuffed with melted cheese, cheeses (such as Bitto and Valtellina Casera), but also the cured meats, such as bresaola, goat's ham called "violino," and Malenca salted meat.
Every tourist who chooses to spend the summer in Chiesa in Valmalenco will have every type of accommodation available , from luxury hotels to B&Bs to small family-run inns and holiday homes, whether immersed in nature or in the centre of villages or towns like Sondrio.
You can also sleep in a refuge, where at night the clear skies of the Valmalenco offer one of the most incredible views of the Milky Way, with the omnipresent profile of the Western Rhaetian Alps.
Why visit Chiesa in Valmalenco
Why choose Chiesa in Valmalenco as your next mountain holiday destination?
Strategic geographical position: Chiesa in Valmalenco is only 24 km from Sondrio, located where the Lanterna and Mallero rivers meet, and is surrounded by spectacular peaks such as the Western Rhaetian Alps, the Bernina Alps, the Bernina Massif, the Scalino Group and the of the Val Bregaglia.
Enchanting natural beauty: The summer landscape of Chiesa in Valmalenco is luxuriant, with the clarity of alpine lakes, the green of pastures and forests, and the blinding white of the glaciers at high altitudes.
Wealth of fauna: The Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi, located nearby, is populated by a very lively fauna made up of birds of prey, ibex, chamois, roe deer and deer.
Opportunities for hiking and mountaineering: Chiesa in Valmalenco offers plenty of opportunities for hiking and mountaineering during the summer, with a wide range of routes available for all abilities.
Various sports activities: Between fishing in the basins of Alpe Gera and Campo Moro, canyoning in the Scerscen stream, free climbing on the cliffs of Val Poschiavina, Campo Moro, Torrione Porro and Sentinella della Vergine, there is no risk of getting bored.
Possibility of excursions on horseback and mountain bike: Equitazione Alpina organizes horse rides through deciduous woods, and the Palù Bike Park offers opportunities for mountain cycling.
Rich historical and cultural heritage: Chiesa in Valmalenco boasts numerous historical sites, such as the soapstone quarries mentioned in the work Naturalis Historia by Pliny the Elder, and places of worship such as the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie and the Parish of Saints Giacomo and Filippo.
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Church summer holidays in Valmalenco
If you are considering a summer holiday in Chiesa in Valmalenco, below you will find some useful links to find hotels and holiday apartments.
Booking.com photo
