Culture & Traditions

THE BEST PLACES TO ADMIRE THE AUTUMN COLOURS

The mountains in autumn offer breathtaking landscapes and a spectacular palette of colours. Here are our suggestions for some easy walks, ideal for families, surrounded by nature and perfect for admiring the beauty of the autumn foliage.

**VAL MASINO: Discover the Autumn Magic of Val di Mello, the Bagni di Masino Forest and Predarossa**

La Val MasinoA favourite destination for climbing enthusiasts, it also offers several opportunities to admire the spectacular autumn foliage.

La Val di Mello, , accessible to everyone, it is one of the most enchanting valleys in all of Valtellina. Surrounded by crystal-clear alpine pools (including the famous **Bidet della Contessa**) and towering granite cliffs, **Val di Mello** offers truly unique landscapes and an extraordinary palette of colours.

A S. MartinoIn addition to exploring **Val di Mello**, visitors can also choose a walk through the **Bagni di Masino Forest**, which takes on an almost fairytale atmosphere in autumn. Within the forest, an accessible trail has also been created for visually impaired and blind visitors, allowing everyone to experience the beauty of this unique natural setting.

Finally, another unmissable autumn destination in **Val Masino** is **Predarossa**, with its famous high-altitude plain, a gateway to **Monte Disgrazia**, one of Valtellina’s most iconic mountains. Surrounded by majestic peaks and breathtaking alpine scenery, Predarossa offers a spectacular natural setting, especially in autumn when the landscape is transformed by warm colours and extraordinary contrasts.

**VAL ZEBRÙ: A WILD ALPINE VALLEY TO DISCOVER**

In Upper Valtellina, in the heart of the **Stelvio National Park** in Valfurva, **Val Zebrù** is a valley that, after a short but steep climb through the forest, opens up to reveal typical alpine landscapes. Traditional, beautifully preserved mountain huts blend perfectly with the surrounding nature, creating a harmonious and authentic mountain atmosphere.

In autumn, the forests are transformed into a spectacular palette of golden and orange hues, surrounding hikers with a truly idyllic and picturesque landscape.

**Val Zebrù** is also the perfect place to hear the impressive **roaring of the deer** during the autumn mating season, a fascinating natural spectacle that echoes through the valley. **the powerful roar of the stag** It is, in fact, one of the areas with the highest concentration of wild ungulates, making it an ideal place to observe these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.

**VAL VIOLA AND THE CANCANO LAKES**

Still in Upper Valtellina, in Valdidentro, here are two more walks suitable for everyone and perhaps even more enchanting in autumn, when the landscape is transformed by its vibrant colours.

La Val Violastarting from ArnogaEssentially a flat valley, Val Viola is easy to explore thanks to its initial paved section, which is also accessible with a stroller. Surrounded by peaks rising above 3,000 metres — including **Cima Piazzi** and **Corno Dosdè** — Val Viola is also ideal for a scenic mountain bike ride.

I Cancano LakesThe **Cancano Lakes**, two vast artificial reservoirs, are another unmissable destination for hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts in Valdidentro.

The Cancano Lakes, accessible by following the road to the Torri di Fraele or, alternatively, from Arnoga via the flat Decauville trail (given its length, mountain biking is recommended), the Cancano Lakes . They are an ideal excursion for everyone, as the route is essentially flat with only gentle gradients.

LAGO DI LIVIGNO

Another unmissable destination for immersing yourself in the vibrant colours of autumn is the Lake Livigno, which can be easily reached by car or via the pleasant cycle and pedestrian path that runs through the entire town of Livigno. From the lake, you can set off on a hike along the Val Alpisella where the **Adda River** has its source, and which connects to the **Cancano Lakes**. This is a moderately challenging route, with a total elevation gain of more than 500 metres.

THE TERRACED VINEYARDS TRAIL

Autumn is also the season of the grape harvest, and walking along the Terraced Vineyards TrailThe Terraced Vineyards Trail (a 70-km cycle and pedestrian route connecting Morbegno and Tirano) offers the perfect opportunity to visit some of the wineries that characterize Valtellina’s Rhaetian slopes. In November, don’t miss the Valtellina Wine Trail, the mountain running race that winds its way through the terraced vineyards.

VALCHIAVENNA: FROM THE ACQUAFRAGGIA WATERFALLS TO SAVOGNO

In Valchiavenna, in the beautiful village of Piuro, you will find the majestic Acquafraggia Waterfalls, among the most photographed and “Instagrammable” places in Valchiavenna.

From here begins the climb of no fewer than 2,886 steps, leading up to Savogno, a place where time seems to have stood still. Along the trail, numerous panoramic viewpoints open up, offering breathtaking vistas that, in autumn, are once again transformed into a spectacular display of colours.

IL LAGO LAGAZZUOLO in Valmalenco

Another must-visit destination for enjoying the autumn foliage is Valmonenco con i suoi splendidi laghetti. Tra le passeggiate consigliate in autunno vi è quella che da S. Giuseppe conduce al Lago Lagazzuolo, uno dei tipici laghetti alpini che caratterizzano la Valtellina.

The hike is “only” 2 km long, but involves a significant elevation gain of almost 600 metres. The effort is more than rewarded by the breathtaking spectacle of autumn colours reflected in the lake’s waters.

VALLE SPLUGA OTHER AUTUMN DESTINATIONS MAGICAL PLACES TO DISCOVER and enchanting hidden corners to discover, scattered throughout the Valle Spluga, such as the… Pizzo Spadolazzo,the cascate del Groppera and Pianazzo Waterfalls,and the Montespluga Dam.