Valtellina is the perfect
destination for a mountain holiday with a cultural twist. For a start, there is
a wide range of museums
that open the door onto the past of this region
bursting with history, art and local traditions.
There is something for everyone,
from art museums to natural history, mining and mineral museums and a number of
interesting ethnographic museums. The museums organize a variety of
activities and events, often for children, making your visit even more
interesting and the exhibits easier to appreciate.
Must-see museums include the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale of Morbegno, which focuses on
nature-related aspects of Valtellina’s history, and the Museo del Tesoro in
Chiavenna, which is home to the famous Pace di Chiavenna, a rare 12th-century
Gospel book cover featuring 25 gold leaves with gemstones, pearls and enamel
work on a walnut panel. Not far from
Chiavenna, in Campodolcino, is Mu.Vi.S. (Museo
della Via Spluga e della Val San Giacomo), which narrates the story of the Via
Spluga and Val San Giacomo.
Heading
further into Valtellina, in the provincial capital of Sondrio is the Museo Valtellinese di Storia e Arte. In Lanzada
(Valmalenco), the Museo Minerario della Bagnada features a guided tour and exhibitions
about mining in the area. Other worthwhile
museums include the Museo di Palazzo Besta in Teglio, which is housed in a noble
16th-century residence featuring frescoes depicting scenes from Virgil’s
Aeneid, and the Museo di Palazzo Salis in Tirano.
In
Upper Valtellina, the Forte di Oga,
a military fort built during the First World War; the Civic Museum of Bormio, an art and ethnographic museum; and the MUS! Museum of Livigno and Trepalle, which narrates the history of Livigno,
its people and its traditions, are all worthy of a visit.
