Insider Valtelline and Valmalenco

Seven tips to discover the Valtelline and Valmalenco following the advice of someone who was born and lives there

From the Fellaria glacier to the thermal baths of Bormio. Plus the pizzoccheri of Teglio and skiing in Valmalenco. While awaiting the 2026 Winter Olympics, come and discover our marvellous mountains, which make Valtelline and Valmalenco unique.

Our high altitude Insider is Simone Polattini. Aged thirty-four, self-employed, he is an Enac operator and works in the field of aerial filming with the use of drones. Thanks to his passion for the video and photographic field, he knows every mountain in “his” Valmalenco, where he was born and raised. With his drone he has gone over the whole Valtelline inch by inch, from the peaks to the villages and the splendid vineyards. Here are his suggestions. His favourite place? “The Fellaria glacier: a showpiece of nature”.

To discover other destinations outside the usual routes follow #INSIDERinLombardia on the social networks. With us, apart from Simone, there is a large team of “photo ambassadors” invited to tell you about cities, mountains, lakes, villages, first-hand experiences.

PS: If you live in Lombardy, you love photography and also want to become an #INSIDERinLombardia, send us your application!

Here are Simone’s tips (on Instagram for those who are curious his Facebook page is Essepidrone - Simone Polattini

Bormio, a dive into the landscape — “Bormio, in the heart of the High Valtelline, is a paradise for relaxation! Terme Bagni Vecchi is a real showpiece. The panoramic pool carved into the rock offers a view over the entire basin. If you love skiing, don’t miss the legendary “Stelvio”, home in the past to the World Championship and World Cup downhill, one of the most beautiful pistes in the Alps. In 2026, it will host the men’s skiing events at the Winter Olympics.”

To Lake Palu with snowshoes — “One of the most fascinating destinations in Valmalenco. In winter I recommend reaching Lake Palu with snowshoes. If you start from the village of San Giuseppe it’s about 6 km, deep in the woods. At the arrival point there is a mountain hut which can also be reached by cable car from Chiesa in Valmalenco. From the hut, where you can stay overnight, there are numerous excursions possible. My favourite? The climb to Sasso Nero at 2,980 metres above sea level.”

Grosio, a mix of castles and rock carvings — “Two castles dominate the Valtelline: the Visconti Venosta (or New) castle and the San Faustino (or Old) castle. Both stand at Grosio, between Tirano and Bormio. Next to the New Castle, which dates to the second half of the fourteenth century, there is the Rock Engravings Park. Behind the village lies the entrance to Val Grosina, an ideal destination for walks and bike rides through woods and past alpine lakes.”

In Valmalenco, on the Thoeni — “Over 60km of slopes around the Alpe Palù. The Chiesa in Valmalenco cable car, with its 160-person cabins, is the largest in the world! And it is very fast: 1,000 metres gained in altitude in just 3 minutes and 40 seconds. The most beautiful piste? The Thoeni. It starts from Cima Motta (2,336 m) and descends 500 m to the base of the Dosso dei Vetti chairlift. In the last section of the wall, the slope reaches an angle of 70%!”

The Fellaria glacier, a spectacle of nature — “This is my second home: a natural spectacle requiring just two hours’ walk. From the dam of Alpe Gera, in Valmalenco, you arrive at the Bignami hut and from there take the Luigi Marson glaciological path. The route from June to October is within everyone’s reach, but in winter I recommend it only to experienced mountaineers. Lucky hikers might come across some ibex!”

Teglio, the home of pizzoccheri — “Here is the recipe for happiness: buckwheat flour and white flour for the dough, plus potatoes, cabbage, butter, casera cheese, parmesan, garlic and pepper. Teglio, halfway along the Valtelline, is the home of pizzoccheri. Fields of buckwheat surround the village, together with vineyards. The village’s symbol is the Torre de li Beli Miri: a splendid viewpoint.”

Livigno, waiting for 2026 — “In 2026 Livigno will host the Olympic Village in the Aquagranda district. But also the snowboard and Freestyle races, thanks to its more than 100 square kilometres of ski area and the largest snow park in Italy. At the Mottolino there is also a Jibbing Area, where you can spin with your board. And from this year for cross-country lovers, snow is assured until late in the season thanks to the ‘snowfarming’ method.”

Vittorio Sella glacier trail

A trail dedicated to Vittorio Sella, the unsurpassed pioneer of mountain photography, who portrayed those mountains starting from the end of the 19th century

Mountains

Piazza Torre Torcole

Location of the Alta Val Brembana which offers tourists a wide range of sporting, cultural and recreational activities.

Mountains

Glaciers in Lombardy

Nine glaciers in Lombardy to discover through spectacular glaciological itineraries

Mountains

Chiesa valmalenco

Church Valmalenco or as they call the Valtellina: the Sèsa, is a leading ski resort in Lombardy.

Mountains

Pian delle Betulle

Beautiful mountain resort of Alta Valsassina, surrounded by the mountains of Lake Como.

Mountains

Montecampione

The beating heart of the lower Vallecamonica, a panoramic terrace overlooking Lake Iseo.

Mountains

Insider Orobie

From the Valle Brembana to the Val Seriana. Discover seven tips from those who have travelled the Bergamo Orobie far and wide

Mountains

Mount St. George and Mount Ursa

A hike among fossil deposits, historic trenches and unspoiled greenery in the heart of Varese province

Mountains

Valle del Caldenno

Mountains

Tonale Pass

Mountains

Imagna Valley among woods, spirituality, and villages

Mountains

Freeride Valmalenco

Off-piste skiing for free spirits!

Mountains

Val Madre

Mountains

Ice climbing in Lombardy

Climbing ice falls is an exciting adventure that confronts man and nature.

Mountains

Valpredina

Visit the WWF nature reserve of Valpredina.

Mountains

Rock climbing walls

The Campo dei Fiori crag is an open-air gym for all lovers of sports and alpine climbing.

Mountains

Val Trompia

La Val Trompia is a new and pleasant tourist destination, to be discovered!

Mountains

Piani d'Erna from Above

A paradise above Lecco, the ideal place to get closer to the mountains in all seasons.

Mountains

Caspoggio

A beautiful balcony overlooking the landscape of the Bernina dominating the whole Valmalenco.

Mountains

Bormio: the magnificent land of history, traditions and nature

Discover Bormio and its goodies

Mountains