Valchiavenna stretches North from the top of Lake Como in the hearth of Raethic
Alps and, in Chiavenna- town of great past- it divides itself into two valleys
which lead to the Maloja and Spluga passes at the border with Switzerland
respectively.
Valchiavenna is a long valley you reach turning towards North as soon as you
enter the province Of Sondrio, coming from the Como Lake. It stretches from the
Pian di Spagna to the Spluga Pass and borders the Swiss Cantone dei Grigioni by
three sides ( Engadina, Val Bregaglia, Val Mesolcina).
The ways of access to Valchiavenna are two which are open all the year: from
south through the Como Lake, from north through the Villa di Chiavenna Pass.
During summer Spluga Pass is open, too. Crossing Valtellina the Aprica Pass and
the Tirano Pass to Switzerland are the other passes open all the year.
Ancient traces of Valchiavenna’s noble past are still
evident from its historical palaces, the majority of which are located in the town of Chiavenna.
One cannot forget to
mention the Vertemate Franchi palace, one of the most prestigious Renaissance
residential palaces in Lombardy; here the memory of the ancient town of Piuro
has survived.
There a number of palaces that you will be able to admire while walking around
Chiavenna’s historic center or the town of Prosto di Piuro including:
Vertemate Franchi palace: one of the most prestigious Renaissance
residential palaces in Lombardy where the memory of the ancient town of Piuro,
submerged by a landslide in 1618, has survived.
Balbiani Palace: known as the Castle, it appears as a compact, stone bloc
surrounded by two cylindrical towers.
Pestalozzi Palace: 15th-century palace, in whose interior is possible to
admire a beautiful stua (stove).
Pretorio Palace: Painted with frescoes on both the outside and inside.
Salis Palace: Stunning 18th-century villa surrounded by a wonderful
English-style garden.
