The Valley of the Masses

The Valle delle Messi departs from the village of Pezzo and, passing through several nuclei of characteristic stone huts, winds in the direction of the Monte Gavia - Punta di Pietra Rossa group. The valley in the initial part, from Santa Apollonia to Case Silizzi, is characterized by a wide esplanade where until the age of the last century there was Silizzi Lake, later filled by debris carried by the Oglio Frigidolfo stream. The vegetation has been influenced by human intervention, resulting in a mosaic composition rich in biodiversity. One can recognize scything meadows alternating with still wet areas where Equisetum and Sedges prevail. After Case Silizzi the valley starts to climb again and the slopes, here very steep, are characterized by forest formations of Larch on the left hydrographic slope and of Alders on the right one. At higher altitudes, past the Val Malza Refuge, wide grasslands interspersed with patches of Rhododendron are the dominant feature.