For summer 2026, in the spirit of local tourism, a favorite choice for over half of Italians, the Valtellina Quality Agri-Food District – “Taste of Emotion” is offering an itinerary to discover the valley’s excellent DOP and IGP products along the Sentiero Valtellina, the cycle/pedestrian path that runs through the productive heart of the area.
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Pedal along the Via dei Terrazzamenti, the heart of Valtellina’s mountain viticulture, as the sun sets over the dry stone walls; pass through apple orchards and historic villages; climb to the mountain pastures where Bitto DOP cheese is produced every summer; learn to make Pizzoccheri della Valtellina IGP, celebrated by the New York Times, in the very town that preserves its tradition; visit the dairies where Valtellina Casera DOP is produced; or indulge in a sandwich with Bresaola della Valtellina IGP or a snack of Valtellina Apples IGP while admiring the view from the Ponte nel Cielo.
These are just some of the opportunities the Valtellina Quality Agri-Food District – “Taste of Emotion” is offering for summer 2026, all about good food and Vitamin T, where “T” stands for Travel. This offering responds to the growing demand for local tourism, chosen by over half of Italians for their holidays this year according to the Piepoli Institute, and reflects one of the key trends set to redefine the sector by 2030, as highlighted by Kayak’s What the Future Report. Against this backdrop, Valtellina remains among the Italian destinations most in tune with this new travel concept: with 36.6% of preferences, it ranks among the top five destinations, alongside the Dolomites (67.3%), Alta Val Badia (45%), Gran Sasso (44.1%), and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines (39.9%), thanks in part to the renewed international visibility it has gained following the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
To live this experience, the District offers seven travel ideas that combine nature, flavor, and culture along the Sentiero Valtellina, the 114-kilometer cycle and pedestrian path that connects Colico to Bormio, following the Adda River and traversing the heart of the region. A trail to be explored on foot or by bicycle, dedicated to slow, authentic, and sustainable tourism.
The Valtellina Trail: a journey through flavors and landscapes
Accessible on foot or by bicycle, the Sentiero Valtellina passes through some of the most iconic places in Valtellina’s food and wine history. From Morbegno, the gateway to the mountain pastures scattered throughout the province, where Bitto DOP is produced during the summer, the trail reaches Sondrio, home to Bresaola della Valtellina IGP. It then continues to Chiuro, a land of dairies and vineyards, and Ponte in Valtellina, all the way to Teglio, home of Pizzoccheri della Valtellina IGP. The route ends in Tirano, a crossroads of the Alps and the starting point of the famous Bernina Express.
Along the way, the Trail intersects with the Via dei Terrazzamenti, offering the opportunity to immerse yourself in the landscape of Valtellina’s heroic viticulture and visit wineries offering tastings and experiences dedicated to the area’s great wines, from Rosso di Valtellina DOC to Alpi Retiche IGT, all the way to Valtellina Superiore DOCG and Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG.
The itinerary can be customized to suit your own pace thanks to the Rent a Bike service, which allows you to rent and return your bike at various points in the valley, and the railway line that runs parallel to much of the route, making it easy to combine train and bike.
Activities to “taste”
Morbegno and the world of mountain pastures and Bitto DOP cheese
Morbegno, “the city of cheese”, is the starting point for discovering one of the symbols of Valtellina food and wine. In the historic centre, among ancient shops and period buildings, a stop at Ciapponi is a must to taste the Bitto DOP in its various maturations, up to ten years, and visit the evocative historic cellars. The back room of the ancient sign hides a surprising succession of vaults, columns and beehive cells that wind through the cellars, in dim spaces that house delicacies of all kinds: from herbal teas to jams, up to the most important wines.
The tasting becomes the prelude to the excursion to discover life on the mountain pastures up close and witness the processing of Bitto directly in the places where it is born.
Among the most picturesque itineraries is the one starting from Morbegno, climbing the road to Albaredo San Marco along the Passo San Marco provincial road. From here, the route, accessible on foot or, for the first stretch, by mountain bike, passes through some of the most picturesque mountain pastures in the valley along which the Bitto River flows: Baitridana, Alpe Piazza, Alpe Lago, Pedena, and Orta Soliva. The trail winds through beech and larch forests, ancient mountain pastures, and high-altitude pastures, offering splendid views of the lower Valtellina, Lake Como, and the Masino-Disgrazia mountain range. Must-see stops include the Alpe Piazza Refuge and the small Alpe Lago lake, the valley’s only natural body of water. With a walking time of approximately 7-8 hours and an elevation gain of 800 meters, this is one of the most complete treks in the Orobie Valtellinesi.
For those who want to stay and tour the town, don’t forget to visit Palazzo Malacrida: it’s been standing since the 18th century in “Scima ai cà,” an ancient Morbegno village that extends vertically and nestles against the mountainside. While you’re there, you can stop by the Valtellina Social Dairy, where you can admire ancient wooden tools and the coldera, the large copper vat where cheese was once made, and stock up on dairy products.
- Info: www.ctcb.it e Comune di Albaredo San Marco
- Rifugio Alpe Piazza: nadiacavallo@libero.it, Strada provinciale Passo per San Marco 23010 Albaredo per San Marco (SO), Tel: 338 4647620
- Fratelli Ciapponi: info@ciapponi.com, Piazza 3 Novembre, 23 – 23017 Morbegno (SO), Tel. 0342 610223.
- Social Dairy: Via Stelvio, 139 – 23014 Delebio (SO), Tel. 0342 685368.
Sondrio and the tradition of Bresaola della Valtellina PGI
Continuing towards Sondrio, you enter the heart of the Bresaola della Valtellina PGI production chain, a symbolic product of the region. The capital city is a hub for the entire production area, bounded by the province of Sondrio, and offers insight into a centuries-old tradition that has linked beef processing, the Alpine climate, and local gastronomic culture.
From here, you can embark on one of the hikes suggested by the Valtellina Nascosta website, all geared towards a sandwich to recharge your batteries. Among the most evocative is the route leading to Mancapane Castle and nearby Castel Grumello, passing through woods, ancient rural settlements, and a characteristic mill. Upon arrival, the view of the terraced vineyards makes a stop for a sandwich with Bresaola della Valtellina PGI even more special. Or, for those seeking a more gourmet experience, the Castel Grumello restaurant, overlooking one of the most beautiful landscapes in Valtellina, is a must.
- Info: Consorzio di Tutela Bresaola della Valtellina
- Ristoro Castel Grumello: Via Sant’Antonio, 645, 23020 Montagna in Valtellina (SO) – ristorogrumello@alice.it – www.ristorogrumello.com
Chiuro and the dairies of Valtellina
Continuing along the Sentiero Valtellina, you’ll reach Chiuro, an area where cheesemaking and winemaking traditions meet. Here, you can discover the connection between the land and the production of Valtellina Casera DOP by visiting local businesses and immersing yourself in the tranquility of the valley.
- Chiuro Dairy: Via Stelvio, 18, 23030 Chiuro (SO)
- Info: www.comune.ponteinvaltellina.so.it/
The Terraced Road and heroic viticulture
The Terraced Route is the ideal route to discover the authentic soul of Valtellina. Approximately 70 kilometers long, it connects Morbegno to Tirano, crossing the sunniest side of the Rhaetian Alps, where terraced vineyards tell the story of centuries of human labor and ingenuity. This is where the famous heroic viticulture takes shape, shaped by kilometers of dry stone walls, whose construction technique is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Along the route, you can walk or cycle among scenic vineyards, ancient villages, churches, historic wineries, and farmhouses. A slow journey that leads to the discovery of the area’s great wines—Alpi Retiche IGT, Rosso di Valtellina DOC, Valtellina Superiore DOCG, and Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG—with the option of stopping at wineries along the way to taste the wines right where they grow, immersed in one of Italy’s most spectacular vineyard landscapes.
The famous Valtellina Wine Trail also passes through here, as well as the Cammino mariano delle Alpi, a trekking itinerary among the Marian places of worship in Valtellina.
Teglio, home of Pizzoccheri della Valtellina PGI
Along the Sentiero Valtellina, an unmissable stop is Teglio, a scenic village at 900 meters above sea level, overlooking the Adda Valley and the Orobie Alps. Considered the home of Pizzoccheri della Valtellina PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), Teglio preserves the tradition of this famous dish made with buckwheat flour, cabbage, potatoes, butter, and Valtellina Casera PDO cheese, even celebrated by the New York Times.
Here, with the ladies of the Pizzocchero Academy, you can attend workshops and demonstrations that share the original recipe passed down through generations. The village also invites you to stroll among historic buildings and buckwheat fields and visit the Mulino Menaglio, one of the few still functioning watermills in the valley, where wheat is still milled by small local producers.
Info: Teglioturismo.com – Mulino Menaglio
Tirano and the Bernina Express
The Bernina Express, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the highest railway line in the Alps, connecting Tirano to St. Moritz through stunning landscapes: not just a simple journey, but a magical experience that will remain in your heart.
Riding the legendary Trenino Rosso (Little Red Train) is like immersing yourself in a breathtaking panoramic journey through mountain landscapes and silent Alpine lakes, passing through Campocologno and Campascio and then ascending towards the incredible Bernina and Morteratsch glaciers.
Before leaving, it’s worth visiting Tirano and tasting Chisciöi, delicious buckwheat flour fritters filled with Valtellina Casera DOP. This delicacy, rooted in rural culinary tradition, is a true gastronomic symbol of the city.
For information and reservations: https://www.treninorosso.it/
RENT-A-BIKE LOCATIONS ON THE VALTELLINA TRAIL and the Valchiavenna cycle path
BORMIO CELSINO SPORT SHOP
Via Battaglion Morbegno, 1
Tel. +39 0342 901459 – Cell. +39 348 4309060
www.celsosport.it – info@celsosport.it
TIRANOVALTELBIKE
Via Monte Padrio, 12 (Internal courtyard of the Pinchetti Institute)
Tel. +39 351 9399639
www.valtelbike.it – info.valtelbike@gmail.com
ALBOSAGGIAVALTELBIKE
Via Adda 568/B c/o white footbridge over the Adda
Tel. +39 393 8220777
www.valtelbike.it – info.valtelbike@gmail.com
MORBEGNOBAR SETTEBELLO
Piazza Bossi 2Tel. +39 340 0781847
www.valtelbike.it – info.valtelbike@gmail.com
COLICO (LC)
ECONOLEGGIO COMO LAKE SRL
Via Montecchio Nord, snc Parco Cariboni
Tel. +39 347 0704434
http://www.econoleggiocomolake.it – info@econoleggiocomolake.it
CHIAVENNA VALCHIAVENNESE TOURIST CONSORTIUM
AA.S.D. U.S. CHIAVENNESE sports center
Via privata Don Peppino Cerfoglia, 4
At the Valchiavenna sports center
Tel. +39 366 2476839 – +39 0343 35068
http://www.valchiavennabike.it – valchiavennabike@gmail.com
For more information, contact VALTELBIKE
