A popular resort in both summer and winter, Madesimo is
tucked into an upper corner of the Valle Spluga, just below where the Passo
Spluga crosses over into Switzerland. For 15 summers between 1888 and 1905,
this enclave at 1,550 m.s.l was where the poet Giosuè Carducci, the first
Italian to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, decamped to enjoy the
undisturbed nature.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN MADESIMO AND CAMPODOLCINO
If
you’re into the outdoors, Madesimo and neighbouring Campodolcino offer
limitless ways to make the most of the fresh mountain air.
Best known for being one of the top ski resorts in the Alps,
Madesimo’s skiable area spans the slopes from 2,880 metres above sea level down
to 1,150 metres. It’s a fairytale in winter with 40 km of Alpine skiing
pistes including top-rated runs down the Val di Lei and the awe-inspiring
Canalone run, plus numerous cross-country skiing tracks, snowmobiling,
snowkite activities and designated snowshoeing routes.
Come summer, Madesimo knows how to tick just as many boxes:
exploring the Via Spluga trail by foot or by bike is a popular
pastime, or plan a route on the vast network of trails that take you to
mountain huts or lakes up high. The Valcava Alpine Garden lies on the
Andossi slopes, opening onto a grassy plateau at the highest part (1,800/1,900
m.s.l), surrounded by pastures with expansive views over the summits in the
Spluga valley.
Golf
enthusiasts should make tracks for the 6-hole golf course and large practice
area with an 18-hole putting green.
WHAT TO SEE IN MADESIMO AND CAMPODOLCINO
Venture into town to admire the Church of Santi Pietro and
Paolo, built in 1946 to replace the original which dated back to the 1500s, and
over to Pianezzo to see the small chapel of S. Maria Maddalena. The Museum
of the Via Spluga and the Val San Giacomo takes you back in time to
discover the history of Valchiavenna and chart the important role of the Via
Spluga route over the centuries.
Info: www.campodolcino.eu / madesimo.eu
