Medium length stage, very simple, and with a moderate relaxing drop.
We walk through Valle Alpisella, where we find the springs of the Adda river, before arriving in Livigno, one of the most famous tourist resorts in the Alps.
Walking southwards, we pass the imposing Cancano dam. Once we arrive on the southern shore of the lake, we turn right and skirt the large basin. Having reached the western end, we take the road that enters Valle Alpisella with a gentle climb, the only one of the day (approximately 350 m height difference).
After about two kilometers, we find a path along the hillside that returns towards the lake, leading to the fresh springs of the Adda river: they deserve the small detour.
We retrace our steps and continue to climb the valley, at the foot of the south face of Pizzo Aguzzo. We thus arrive at Passo dell'Alpisella ( 2,299 m), embellished by the nearby lake of the same name. We continue downhill (approximately 500 m drop), always on a comfortable carriage road, sometimes overlooking impressive ravines.
Once on the shores of Lake Livigno, by Ristoro Val Alpisella, we cross on a beautiful bridge the Canale Torto and continue southwards, skirting the west bank of the large artificial basin. In the end, we find ourselves surrounded by the first houses in the municipality of Livigno.
Livigno has been a free-trade zone since the 16th century (at the time, the valley was under the government of the Bormio county). After it joined the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, the county asked for confirmation of its privileges and obtained it in 1910. Borders and benefits were regulated in the following years. In the 1960s, exemptions were extended also to alcohol and cigarettes.
These policies have allowed Livigno to continue to develop and today it is a real mountain metropolis, also called "little Tibet".
The village has developed for almost the entire length of the valley, acquiring the curious aspect of a continuous snake of houses.
At the foot of Monte Ferro, in the Alpisella Valley (with a short detour from Sentiero Italia), it is possible to drink directly at the sources of the Adda river, the fourth-longest Italian river. After crossing the entire Valtellina, it flows into the large lake Como and then re-emerges from "... that arm of Lake Como" (cit. “The Betrothed” by A.Manzoni) and continues to Cremona, where it enters the Po.
The MUS! The Museum of Livigno and Trepalle is a necessary stop to understand the past and present of the Livigno valley.
The harsh conditions of the territory favored a strong spirit of adaptation in its inhabitants, skilled in the art of getting by in an isolated and resource-poor environment.
For more info, timetables and tickets, follow the LINK.
The slinzega of beef, pork, venison, and even horse is one of the typical old cuts of the valley. It was a tasty and nutritious way to store slaughterhouse waste.
Today it is a precious product: the choice and cleaning of the piece to be seasoned is a job for experts. It is put in salt and massaged for 10 days, then it is covered with spices and left to mature for about 30 days.
Camping Pemont, in Livigno. Tel. +39 0342 997536
Mansueto Camping, in Livigno. Tel. +39 0342 996696 -+ 39 333 414 7088
Camping Stella Alpina, in Livigno. Tel. +39 0342 997101 - +39 348 0392468
In Livigno, there are numerous accommodation facilities
Starting point reachable by car.
Departure point NOT reachable by bus.
The nearest location reachable by bus is Isolaccia, starting from the town of Tirano with a change in Bormio.
Here the LINK to check the timetables.
Starting point NOT reachable by train.
Va' Sentiero is a grassroot project, thanks to the spontaneous contribution oft housands of people.
Even the most complicated dream, a 7,000km uphill dream,
can be achieved... together.
Grazie!
