Chiesa in Valmalenco: what to see among nature, sports and culture
An alpine holiday among trails, lakes, horseback riding, discovering local rhythms and atmospheres
Chiesa in Valmalenco is located 24 km from Sondrio. It's where the Lanterna and Mallero meet. It's a great choice for a mountain getaway. You can enjoy trails, sports, and explore the area.
In summer, as you climb higher, you'll first see forests and pastures. Then come alpine lakes and finally glaciers. These are among the Western Rhaetian Alps, Bernina Alps, Scalino Group, and Val Bregaglia.
We came to Chiesa in Valmalenco mainly to hike the Val Torreggio loop between Lago di Zana and Lago di Arcoglio. But our plans changed when rain forced us to stay in town for a day.
It was a chance to see Chiesa more leisurely. The wet streets, houses clustered around the center, and the bell tower peeking through the roofs give the town the typical mountain village feel.
Staying in town became an unexpected part of our trip. It's an experience we might have missed if the weather had been nice and we had headed straight for the trails.
What to do in Chiesa: nature, sports, and culture
If you're here mainly for hiking, there are trails leading to alpine pastures, lakes, and high-altitude areas. The location lets you explore different parts of the valley.
But it's not just about trekking. You can fish in the Alpe Gera and Campo Moro reservoirs, try canyoning in the Scerscen stream, or go climbing on the cliffs of Val Poschiavina, Campo Moro, Torrione Porro, and Sentinella della Vergine.
If you prefer something different, you can choose mountain biking at Palù Bike Park or horseback riding through the broadleaf forests.
For a day, renting an e-bike costs about €60. It's a good way to explore the area and handle the slopes more easily.
But we wanted to try something different. We use e-bikes during the year too. So, we chose to go horseback riding instead.
Among the available experiences is a roughly 3-hour ride in the San Giuseppe area. The route goes through the woods, offering a different mountain experience compared to hiking or biking trails.
One option also includes a lunch stop at the Tartaglione or Porro refuge. The approximate cost is €165, excluding lunch.
Nearby is the Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi, home to birds of prey, ibexes, chamois, roe deer, and deer. It's one of the stops we had to skip in our itinerary.
Honestly, three days aren't enough to discover everything Valmalenco offers.
Next time, we promised ourselves to return to the Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi, hoping to spot an ibex or chamois. It's the stop we regretted missing the most this time.
If the weather allows, we also want to try canyoning in the Scerscen stream or climbing the cliffs of Val Poschiavina and Torrione Porro. Maybe we'll visit the Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie too, to see more than just the mountain from the outside.
