The famous Bernina Express and red train railway was granted UNESCO world heritage status in 2008. It’s not just a connection between Italy and Switzerland, it’s also an incredible adventure through breathtaking mountain landscapes. Moreover, it’s Europe's highest-altitude Alpine crossing and one of the world’s steepest natural grip railways. From its panoramic cars, you can enjoy jaw-dropping landscapes both in winter and summer. This train travels on slopes with a 7% gradient. The railway’s highest point is at 2253 m (Bernina Pass), and then it descends to St. Moritz, Engadin’s gem. 

Capo di Ponte is located between Valtellina and Valcamonica, 35 km from Aprica. This place attracts numerous tourists as it’s home to the Archeopark – a museum of prehistory with villages built in various styles from the Palaeolithic to the Roman era – and the Naquane National Park of Rock Engravings, Italy’s first UNESCO world heritage site.

The Breno castle, ancient villages such as Cemmo and Pescarzo, fortresses, smelting furnaces, and forges bear witness to the rich prehistoric history of this Valley, as its new brand defines it.

Tirano is the ancient chief town of Valtellina Terziere Superiore, inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Middle Ages, it was enriched with beautiful castles and buildings whose ruins still stand today. The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Tirano was built after the Marian apparition in the 16th century. Today, it’s Valtellina’s most important religious monument and the most beautiful example of Renaissance architecture in the province. This sanctuary stands out for its monumental organ that dates back to the 1600s. Its square also houses Tirano’s Ethnographic Museum.

The Stelvio Pass is one of the best-known Alpine passes and Italy’s highest automotive pass with 2,758 metres and 40 hairpin turns. This legendary climb is famous for the heroic feats of the world’s greatest cyclists. More than once, it was named “Cima Coppi” after Fausto Coppi, the unforgettable Italian champion who won the Giro d’Italia five times. You can also have fun skiing in the summer on the Livrio glacier. From the Stelvio Pass, you can take different panoramic routes if you like hiking in the summer.

Valtellina has many PGI products, and Bresaola della Valtellina is for sure one of the most popular ones. The first evidence of bresaola (or brisaola) dates back to the fifteenth century, even if its origin pre-dates that. The production of bresaola was confined to family circles until the 19th century, when they started exporting it to Switzerland. Over the years, preservation techniques have been perfected so that today we can enjoy a unique, top-quality, and delicious product.

When you hear Valtellina, the first thing that comes to mind is pizzoccheri, the main local dish. It has ancient origins, like the cultivation of buckwheat, which is extremely popular in the valley, especially in Teglio. This “black flour” is also used for other traditional dishes, such as sciatt, polenta taragna and chisciöi. However, pizzoccheri is the most popular dish, perhaps because for Valtellina’s skilful women they have always been easy to be cooked and usually served on the family table. How are pizzoccheri made?

Apples have been cultivated in Valtellina since the Middle Ages. However, the current extension along the valley floor and up to 900 metres of altitude, from Sondrio to Tirano, was achieved only in the past century. The soil, sun exposure, the surrounding Alps, and the proximity to the Como lake add quality to Valtellina’s apples, which stand out for their intense taste, colour, and compact pulp. Moreover, they have excellent preservation characteristics.

The bond between Valtellina and winemaking started in ancient times and has shaped the landscape uniquely. Over 2,500 kilometres of dry-stone walls run along Valtellina’s valley, creating 850 hectares of vineyards and Italy’s largest terraced area: 50 kilometres from Morbegno to Tirano.