Cycling tours in the sun of the Cechs, the Valtellina Coast

The 18-km tour includes all the elements that well tell the story of the Costiera dei Cech, particularly the strip from the valley floor to the mid-coast villages at almost 800 m above sea level.

The loop route begins and ends in Morbegno, with the Ganda Bridge "crossing" the Adda River. The road is to be crossed carefully and followed for a short distance until it crosses red signs with a bike symbol (right). The climb passes through the pretty hamlets of San Bello and Santa Croce (Civo), then-beyond the houses of the latter-crosses downhill the scattered nucleus of Corlazzo: vineyards, small chapels and a well-preserved 17th-century wine press. The ascent on Provincial Road 6 makes a detour to Domofole Castle, an archaeological site in a truly panoramic position. The route passes through the villages of Mello and Civo; a must stop at the small church of San Bernardino with views of Morbegno and the Orobie mountains opposite.

The long descent on Morbegno, almost 7 km in total, is a series of hairpin bends with really bucolic views, especially in autumn: chestnut woods, dry stone walls, stone houses, small churches. The final photo at the top of Ganda Bridge marks the end of the tour.