There are many unique features of the Valdisotto that we are delighted to recommend.
Here are our top tips:
The fort at Oga
It is always exciting to take a step back in time and a visit to Fort Venini at Oga will stay with you for a long time.
The fort, set in the pine forest at an altitude of 1,730 metres, was built between 1904 and 1914 in the lead up to an expected war with Austria. Today the whole of the fort is open to visitors, from the soldiers’ dormitories down to the underground vaults used to store explosives.
Do not miss the armoured dome where canons were placed which could strike targets beyond the Stelvio Pass. Lastly, from the roof of the fort you can enjoy some fine views over the Alta Valtellina.
Paluaccio nature reserve
Paluaccio is an ancient peatland where you can discover an environment which is increasingly rare in Italy.
Covering 30 hectares, you can walk around the reserve thanks to the wooden walkways which head out into the marshy ground surrounded by thick forests of pine, spruce and larch trees. Of the many interesting plants found here, one of the most notable is a carnivorous plant which thrives in habitats like these where the soil is lacking in nutrients.
The traditional San Lorenzo bonfires
An ancient tradition which has its roots in the rituals of our ancestors that, miraculously, survives to this day.
During the night of 9 August in the beautiful hamlet of Oga, on a natural terrace overlooking Bormio, it is traditional to light large bonfires in honour of the village’s patron saint.
The tradition has clear connections with a pagan ritual that used to be celebrated at the end of the harvest. The most impressive bonfire, the biggest one which burns the longest, is the Flama de Tadé, prepared by youngsters on a natural terrace at around 2,000 m, where the youngsters celebrate around the fire, as if performing a rite of passage to adulthood.
The Bei Laghetti
Up at 2,715 m, these beautiful lakes will take your breath away with their incredible turquoise waters that could almost be Caribbean! No, really! The remarkable colour of the water is accentuated by the rugged mountain landscape around the lakes.
The easiest way to get to the Bei Laghetti is to take the cable car from Bormio to the summit of Bormio 3000 and then follow path S541 downhill on foot or on mountain bike. Do not forget your camera because, when you get to the lakes, you will definitely want to take some photos!
The Cepina baptistery
Formerly used as an ossuary, a visit to the baptistery should be part of any visit to the quiet village of Cepina where the monument was built in the 1700s by the devoted peasants.
It is a unique monument in the region thanks to the elaborate 18th-century gates and the valuable frescoes should on the façade, the walls and the interior.
Take the time to look at the dragon-shaped gargoyles; when you get back to Bormio, you will notice that they also decorate the Kuerc in the town’s main square.
