The capital of the Province,
Sondrio has all the makings of an idyllic Alpine town. Organised, clean, and
nicely compact, it is ranked as one of the top Italian cities for quality of
life.
While
flanked on two sides by the Rhaetian Alps and the Orobie Alps, much of the
city’s charm lies just below the mountain peaks in the steep terraced vineyards
that are known for producing some of Valtellina’s finest red wines and
justifying the city’s title of "City of Wine."
Sondrio is
the ideal city to get around on two feet. Its old town is lined with historic
palazzi, enchanting views, and traditional shops selling typical local
products.
Make sure
to visit Piazza Garibaldi, the heart of the city and home to the renovated
Teatro Sociale, as well as the fairy-tale lanes of Scarpatetti, complete with
pretty stone house with quaint wooden balconies. This neighbourhood escorts you
up to Castel Masegra, which stands above the city and houses the CAST
‘storytelling’ museum on Alpine culture, il Castello delle Storie Montagna.
While the urban centre of Sondrio lies on the
valley floor, you’ll find, quaint villages that are still part of the longer
metropolitan area sitting just above it: Arquino, Mossini-Sant’Anna, Ponchiera,
Triangia and Triasso.
These hamlets are amongst the oldest inhabited
areas, perched on the mountainside as Valtellina residents sought shelter from
the once frequent flooding of the Mallero and Adda rivers.
VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF SONDRIO
