Trekking
5:00 h
10.86 km
844 m
988 mGREEN COMMUNITIES
Green Communities are coordinated and interconnected local communities that seek to jointly implement development plans that are sustainable from an energy, environmental, economic, and social perspective.
They seek to build vibrant communities to “walk together,” based on a geographically broad territory that includes multiple participating areas, in order to define a process of territorial regeneration—not only environmental but also social and economic—that brings together responses to the various crises facing mountain regions (climate, economic, social), and to combat depopulation, abandonment, and desertification.
THE TERRITORIAL CONTEXT: THE VALGREEN PROJECT
The territorial area identified for the establishment of the “ValGreen” Green Community consists of eleven municipalities within the jurisdiction of the Valtellina Mountain Community of Morbegno, which was created to launch a virtuous cycle of land management and the development of sustainable tourism. The regional authority, together with the neighboring municipalities of Cercino, Cino, Civo, Dubino, Forcola, Mantello, Mello, Morbegno, Talamona, Tartano, and Traona, focuses on several key areas: the forestry sector; “slow mobility” centered on the bike path and through initiatives related to hiking trails; and improving the energy efficiency of municipally owned buildings.
Regarding non-motorized transportation, the project focuses on the Sentiero Valtellina bike path, on the one hand, to improve its routes and services, and on the trail network, on the other, with the aim of connecting the cultural sites throughout the area.
MULATTIERE AND ACCESS ROADS TO THE VAL TARTANO
The current road, known as the Strada végia del Doss de Crus, was built between 1956 and 1957, allowing motor vehicles access to the valley for the first time.
In fact, despite being so densely populated that it had three elementary schools in the 1950s, until then the Val Tartano had been accessible only on foot along a mule trail.
Fortunately, at a time when Italy was entering its economic boom, then-Minister Ezio Vanoni—a native of nearby Morbegno—brought the inadequate conditions in Tartano and its valley to the attention of the Senate.
Here is an excerpt from his speech: “I cannot forget that in my province there is a small town of 1,200 inhabitants, which even today is connected to the plains by a mule trail, so that it takes five hours on foot to reach it, and when you climb up, as I have sometimes done before and after entering politics—and as one approaches the town hall and sees the memorial to those who fell in the two wars, and notes that this small mountain village had the highest ratio of fallen soldiers to resident population in both wars, one’s work is inevitably guided—as I believe I have always done throughout my political life—toward ensuring that these 1,200 mountain farmers have economic stability and hope for a future for themselves and their children.”
These words are now engraved on a plaque erected in 1966 near the bridge over the Vicima stream, along the road itself, with the inscription “The people of Val Tartano to Ezio Vanoni, Minister of the Republic.”
THE VILLAGE OF SOSTILA
Sostila is a medieval village situated at an elevation of 820 meters in the Val Fabiòlo, accessible only on foot.
Its stone houses, some dating back to the early Middle Ages, are arranged along narrow cobblestone streets, preserving the original urban layout intact. Among the places of interest are: the Church of the Madonna della Neve, the heart of the community and a testament to local devotion; the school, closed in 1958, which still preserves its original furnishings, offering a glimpse into school life of that era; the parish house and the ancient “house of portals” illustrate building techniques resulting from centuries of accumulated expertise and traditions.
The absence of roads accessible to vehicles has preserved the village’s authenticity, making it a unique example of rural Alpine architecture in Valtellina. In the past, the inhabitants made their living by growing chestnuts, raising livestock, and harvesting fruits sold in the markets of surrounding villages. Today, Sostila seems like a village frozen in time, where traditions and legends—such as those involving witches and spirits—add to the place’s charm.
Several hiking trails pass through Sostila. From here, you can reach Somvalle by joining the trail that descends toward Talamona. An interesting loop route, on the other hand, involves climbing to the village of Motta and the picturesque Casa Rotonda, then descending toward Sirta via Ronco, Alfaedo, and other small villages that dot the return route to Sirta. These trails, nestled in chestnut and beech forests, offer breathtaking views and allow you to discover traces of rural life from days gone by, among ancient dry-stone walls and the ruins of mountain huts. It is recommended to undertake these hikes during the summer season, paying attention to elevation changes and trail conditions.
SOSTILA AND VAL FABIOLO
Hidden among the folds of the Valtellina, Val Fabiòlo is a little-known valley yet rich in charm and history.
Located south of the Adda River, between Morbegno and Sondrio, this transverse valley stretches for about four kilometers and once served as an important route connecting Val Tartano and Val Brembana.
Sostila, the valley’s main village, is a medieval settlement dating back to the 16th century and situated at an elevation of 820 meters. It is a place that tells stories of a past marked by hard work and resilience, with its stone houses, slate roofs, and ancient mule trails.
Today, the village—which has been almost entirely uninhabited since the 1960s—comes alive during the summer months with visitors and vacationers.
Since the village can only be reached on foot via the historic Val Fabiolo mule trail, the entire Val Fabiolo is characterized by a sense of isolation that has allowed for the preservation of an unspoiled natural landscape, marked by forests of chestnut, beech, and conifer trees. The terrain has shaped a valley nestled between rocky walls, creating an environment that seems almost suspended in time.
Amid cobblestone paths that wind through a natural setting of rare beauty, the following stand out: the small church dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows; the old school, closed in 1958 but still furnished with the desks of the children who once attended it; the parish house; the “house of books,” and several characteristic buildings that, like an open-air museum, tell the story of rural life in days gone by.
Nature provided their livelihood. First and foremost were chestnuts, eaten cooked or raw or as flour—a staple of their diet—along with vegetables from the garden and the few fruit trees cultivated on the slopes. Finally, there were farm animals and the beech trees, which provided firewood.
The village, nestled in tranquility and greenery, also preserves old traditions and folk tales—such as legends of witches and spirits—that enliven the collective imagination, adding a touch of mystery to the valley’s timeless charm.
