In the centre of Valtellina, set between the Rhaetian and the Orobie alps it is carved out the district of Sondrio. To live and enjoy the atmosphere intensely, Sondrio is the ideal beginning of a journey to discover this territory composed of olympian and majestic mountains, a cutting edge with various landscapes: known to everyone as the reign of snow in winter and scenography of colours and fragances in summer a territory to be fully seen as the destination of cultural itineraries of art and rural architecture. Walking through Sondrio, passing the small antique stores and those of traditional art , your sight gets lost, while your taste is inevitably tantalized by the typical products that only the Valtellina can offer. A small town, but with an indefinable appeal, result of a perfect union of palaces different in age and in style. From the heart of the nineteenth century of "Garibaldi' Square" with its small passes through discrete and full of appeal narrow alleys you can visit the wonderful aristocratic dwellings such as "the Sertoli's Palace" with its superb frescoedhall or the "Martinengo's Palace" built in the XVI century and the memorable library of "Villa Quadrio" reaching easily striking squares as the so called "Quadrivio". Leaving the capital, almost protecting from east and west the entrance of the town, among flowers, rocks and vineyards, there are the "Sanctuary of Madonna delal Sassella" and "The Castle of Grumello".   

Circuit of wines,churches and castles

At Montagna al piano, the path winds up through vineyards till it reaches St.Anthony's church and St.Rocco's church. The castle of Grumello is reachable after passing the church of the Madonnina and the homonym district that represents one of the oldest settlements of the country. The journey continues on a paved road up till Cà Paini, where is necesary to visit the Giorgio Gianatti winemaking site, together with the Credaro's palace, of the XVI century. The path continues till Cà Credaro, an old district  with a breathtaking landscape. The track decreases, first in the meadows and later in the wood, till Surana in the municipality of Poggiridenti, from where , walking through via Torricello you can reach St.fedele's church.

Circuit of the traditional rural suburbs

From the sport centre of Chiuro, along the road that goes to Castionetto, you need to take the old mule track to Castionetto till St.Bartholomew's church. After that, the panoramic road Ponte-Teglio will lead you in direction to Teglio, through the town of Castionetto, passing through the Maffina District, to reach the tower of Castionetto. Walking through the chestnut trees and going up, following the "traces" of old paths you will reach the Maffina District , The Martori district and along the carriage able to reach Fancoli District.

Path of the chestnut trees and of the mufflers of Giants

The path of the chestnut trees and of the mufflers of Giants of the Serio torrent suggested for vernal and fall seasons starts from Valbona, fraction of the municipality of Piateda, with a narrow dirt road with ahirpin turns that goes through the chestnut trees and ends up in the districty of Castellaccio. In the district there are some traditional houses made with stones and a traditional 2Grà" of the 1788 (a building with fireside and hurdle  for the drying up of chestnuts). Then the itinerary continues only on foot to reach the abandoned St.Vittore's church of the '600; from here it goes down to Valbona with the antique cobbled paving mule track. Turning left and crossing the Serio on a recent bridge in wood bilt after the flood in 1987, you reach the district of Bettoli. From the bridge is possible to admire some interesting examples of ice erosion of the stones and masses of stones that heve been in the torrent for centuries: "mufflers of the Giants". In the district of Bettoli completely abandoned and half ruined , you can admire che church of Santa Croce, built in 1624.

Path of the Mills in Berbenno

The path is composed of a ring that, starting from teh centre of Berbenno, goes up on a dirt road along via Mulini near the torrent, where there are many ancient hydraulic mills. Before crossing the torrent there's the little church of the Madonnina and just passed it there is a restored mill with touristic- didactic function; proceeding along this way you will go up till StGregory's church (1300-1600), below the church there is a striking dirt road. Walking through the narrow streets near the houses, after a little time, you reach Polaggia, where there is the church of St.Abbondio and Gaetano (1600).Going back to Berbenno, at the city hall square, where it overlooks the ancient Casa Negri, with a small deviation, it is possible to visit the archpriest's church of St Maria Assunta (1600). From the city hall square you pass the torrent called Finale , before it there is a walk near the Odescalchi's palace, with a majestic medieval tower. Proceeding along via Garibaldi you can admire some very interesting buildings, such as Casa Quadrio, Casa Piccioli and the restaurant of the Farm holiday "La Singela", recently restored, that owns a statue of the '700 and an ancient room with a vault, serving as dinner rooms; this is for sure the best way to end the itinerary.

Ancient rural suburbs of Valmalenco

It is an itinerary in Valmalenco, through Spriana, Torre di Santa Maria,Caspoggio, Lanzada, Chiesa in Valmalenco and the fraction of Primolo, through the ancient rural suburbs, almost completely abandoned. The path is hinged in a series of circuit, linked to each other, and can take from one to four hours, each circuit  is indipendent; so that is possible to schedule walking more than one of these rings while coming back, every time , at the point of departure; in particular the Anello della Scala dei Pizzi and the Sentiero delle Contrade.