Valle Spluga (Valle San Giacomo)

Valle Spluga, also known as Valle San Giacomo, lies north of Chiavenna in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy. This alpine valley connects Italy to Switzerland via the Splügen Pass, whose carriage road was built in the 19th century by engineer Carlo Donegani. It includes several settlements, such as Campodolcino, Pianazzo and Madesimo, the latter being a well-known winter sports resort with alpine ski slopes, summer walking trails and via ferrata routes. Nearby is the artificial Lake Val di Lei, appreciated for its high-mountain scenery. The valley retains a rural, mountain character, with stone hamlets, alpine pastures and mountain huts accessible on foot. Not far away, the town of Chiavenna is known for its “crotti”, natural cool caves traditionally used to store local cheeses and cured meats. The region offers year-round outdoor activities, from skiing and hiking to climbing and exploring the cross-border Italian-Swiss alpine heritage.