Wondering what you absolutely can't miss in Sondrio? Here are some suggestions!
VALTELLINA WINE ROAD
The Valtellina Wine Road includes 67km of panoramic road along the terraced vineyards. This route offers a wide selection of experiences and activities: wine tastings to discover the Nebbiolo of the Alps, tours of vineyards and wineries, traditional dishes and authentic flavours, moments of pure relaxation surrounded by the picturesque scenery of the terraces, adrenaline-filled activities.
Experiences can be booked via the website: stradadelvinovaltellina.it
RAFTING AND CANOEING
The Adda river is an ideal spot for adrenaline-filled sports such as rafting, canoeing and hydro speed. The area offers a variety of experiences suitable for families, beginners and experienced rafters. While navigating the rapids of the river, surrounded by the Alps, vineyards, castles, woods and ancient rural villages you can experience Valtellina from a completely different, exciting and suggestive point of view. The best river spot for a thrilling experience is definitely the one located along the rapids of Boffetto, in the municipality of Piateda, while the calmer route from Piateda to Castione is recommended for families with kids.
For further information: 0342 185 6225 / info@indomitavaltellinariver.com
MVSA MUSEUM
The MVSA Museum is located in the old town area of the city, within the beautiful setting of Palazzo Sassi de’Lavizzari.
The Museum consists of six sections narrating the history of Valtellina and its artistic expressions: during the tour visitors can discover the ancient settlements of the valley, from prehistoric times to the Middle Age, learn about Sacred Art, travel in the Mediterranean in search of treasures of inestimable value. The Ligari section is dedicated to the family of the same name, who dedicated their life to art. Visitors can also admire a preview of modern and contemporary art and learn about prominent people in the history of the city of Sondrio.
The museum is child-friendly and offers dedicated experiences for users with disabilities.
Info and reservations
Tel.: 0342 526553
Email: museoreception@comune.sondrio.it
Tuesday to Sunday
10.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00
CAST MUSEUM
CAST, the ‘narrating museum’ within the walls of Castello Masegra, promotes mountain culture and offers a multimedia journey, curated by Marco Albino Ferrari and realized by the artistic collective Studio Azzurro. The museum is filled with video projections, immersive devices, images and tales that follow one another on the three levels of the museum.
An interactive experience in which alpine culture and technology go hand in hand to make CAST a true ‘storytelling’ landmark, where visitors can discover innovative ways of enjoying the mountains.
Info and reservations
E-mail cast@comune.sondrio.it
Tel. 333 6177209
Thursday to Sunday
10.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00
MuMiVV MUSEUM
A journey through the mineralogical species of our area that will lead the visitor to discover the most beautiful, rare and important minerals of Valtellina and Valchiavenna.
The collections are housed in the beautiful setting of Castello Masegra, already home of the CAST Museum.
Info and reservations
E-mail cast@comune.sondrio.it
Tel. 333 6177209
Thursday to Sunday
10.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00
FOOTBRIDGE ABOVE THE “CASSANDRE”
Open 24 hours a day with night lighting
An easy panoramic route that leads to the footbridge suspended over the “Cassandre”, the breath-taking gorges of the Mallero Creek, connecting two small hamlets of Sondrio at high altitude (Mossini and Ponchiera)
The trail begins at the infopoint in Piazza Campello and continues along Via Dante until Piazza Cavour, the old historical square of Sondrio, for centuries home of markets from all over Valtellina. At the bottom of the square (street number 10) visitors can take the “Salita Ligari”, an ancient stone staircase that leads up the historical streets of Contrada Scarpatetti. The route continues near Castello Masegra, a well-maintained medieval military structure. After a short stretch on the main road, the track takes a dirt road for a few hundred meters and then turns sharply on the left to a path that climbs between the dry-stone walls of the Grumello vineyards, nowadays still cultivated thanks to the heroic viticulture of Valtellina. Once arrived in the Ponchiera district, the footbridge welcomes the visitors. The bridge is suspended over the “Cassandre”, breath-taking gorges into which the Mallero Creek flows out of Valmalenco, in a majestic and suggestive environment. From Contrada Maioni, a path through the woods quickly descends towards Sondrio, where the route again crosses the Mallero Creek in the “Gombaro” area. From the ancient medieval district of Fracaiolo, visitors can return to the starting point.
For further information: Infopoint at turismo@comune.sondrio.it
VIA DEI TERRAZZAMENTI
The “Via dei Terrazzamenti” is a trail that develops along the most characteristic area of Valtellina’s landscape: the terraced vineyards, located halfway up the coast, between 300m and 700m above sea level on the Rhaetian side. The seventy-kilometre-long cycle and pedestrian route connects Morbegno to Tirano, and that can be taken from Sondrio in both directions. The route winds along the steep rocky side of the mountain among vineyards, apple orchards and the traditional dry-stone walls, passing through woods, historic villages, streams and buildings of great historical and artistic interest.
For further information: Infopoint at turismo@comune.sondrio.it
SASSELLA RING ROUTE
An easy ring route starting and ending in the centre of Sondrio.
Starting from Piazza Cavour visitors can cross the Mallero stream and take via Romegialli, continuing first on via De Simoni and then on via Bassi until past the Church of Beata Vergine del Rosario.
After crossing the provincial road to Valmalenco, take the path surrounded by vineyards until the road leading to Triasso; there we find the sign marking the departure of the path that goes down to the sanctuary of Madonna della Sassella.
At the Sanctuary, on the opposite side of the parking lot in front of the church, a small road with grass takes us to the lower bend of the asphalt road that goes from Sondrio to Triasso.
We descend until the Via Valeriana, until we meet again with the provincial road of Valmalenco.
Continuing straight in front of the Church of Beata Vergine del Rosario turning right, we reach Viale Milano, which we can walk back to the center of Sondrio.
For further information:
Infopoint at turismo@comune.sondrio.it
Rusca Trail
The Rusca trail follows a historic route that runs along the Strada Cavallera, the ancient trading road that, passing through the Valmalenco, ran from Sondrio over the Passo del Muretto and ended in Engadine. The route is very interesting but sometimes difficult, with an altitude difference of more than 2300 meters, and takes at least two days to follow end to end.
The trail begins in via Nicolò Rusca, behind the Church of Saints Gervasio and Protasio, and passing via Scarpatetti, climbs up to the hamlets of Ponchiera and Arquino, passing through all of the Valmalenco valley and touching all its principal villages (Torre, Chiesa, Chiareggio), before climbing up to the Passo del Muretto (2562 m), from where it descends to Maloja (1815 m), in Switzerland.
The Italian tract has been renamed the Rusca trail, because it was from there that, during the religious conflicts of 1618, the archpriest of Sondrio Nicolò Rusca was transferred to Coira.
The entire length of the foot and bike path is marked with directional signs and tourist information boards.
For further information: Infopoint at turismo@comune.sondrio.it
