Cycling among the rows of the Via dei Terrazzamenti, the heart of Valtellina mountain viticulture, while the sun sets over the dry stone walls; crossing apple orchards and historic villages; climbing to the alpine pastures where Bitto DOP is born every summer; learning how to prepare Pizzoccheri della Valtellina IGP, celebrated even by the New York Times, right in the town that preserves this tradition, and visiting the dairies where Valtellina Casera DOP is produced; or treating yourself to a sandwich with Bresaola della Valtellina IGP or a snack based on Valtellina Apples IGP while admiring the panorama from the Bridge in the Sky.

These are just some of the opportunities that the Valtellina Quality Agri-food District – "Taste of Emotion" offers for summer 2026, under the banner of good food and Vitamin T, where "T" stands for Travel. An offering that responds to the growing demand for proximity tourism, chosen by more than half of Italians for their vacations this year according to the Piepoli Institute, and that interprets one of the main trends set to redefine the sector by 2030, as highlighted by Kayak's What the Future Report. In this scenario, Valtellina confirms itself as one of the Italian destinations most in tune with this new idea of travel: with 36.6% of preferences, it ranks among the top five destinations, together with the Dolomites (67.3%), Alta Val Badia (45%), Gran Sasso (44.1%) and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines (39.9%), also thanks to the renewed international visibility gained after the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics.

To experience this adventure, the District proposes seven travel ideas that unite nature, taste and culture along the Valtellina Path, the cycle-pedestrian route of over 114 kilometers that connects Colico to Bormio following the course of the Adda River and crossing the heart of the territory. A route to experience on foot or by bicycle, under the banner of slow, authentic and sustainable tourism.

The Valtellina Path: an itinerary between flavors and landscapes

Accessible both on foot and by bicycle, the Valtellina Path crosses some of the symbolic places of Valtellina food and wine culture. From Morbegno, gateway to the alpine pastures scattered throughout the province, where Bitto DOP is produced during the summer, you reach Sondrio, the city of Bresaola della Valtellina IGP, then continue towards Chiuro, land of dairies and vineyards, and Ponte in Valtellina, until Teglio, home of Pizzoccheri della Valtellina IGP. The itinerary concludes in Tirano, crossroads of the Alps and starting point of the famous Bernina Express.

Along the route, the Path intertwines with the Via dei Terrazzamenti, offering the opportunity to immerse yourself in the landscape of Valtellina's heroic viticulture and to visit wineries that offer tastings and experiences dedicated to the great wines of the territory, from Rosso di Valtellina DOC and Alpi Retiche IGT, to Valtellina Superiore DOCG and Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG. The itinerary can be personalized based on your own pace thanks to the Rent a Bike service, which allows you to rent and return bicycles at different points in the valley, and to the railway line that runs parallel to much of the route, making it easy to combine train and bicycle.

THE 7 ACTIVITIES TO "TASTE"

1. Morbegno and the world of alpine pastures and Bitto DOP

"The city of cheese", it is the starting point to discover one of the symbols of Valtellina food and wine culture. In the historic center, among ancient shops and period buildings, a stop at Ciapponi is a must to taste Bitto DOP in its various ages, up to ten years, and visit the suggestive historic cellars. The back room of the ancient shop hides a surprising succession of vaults, columns and honeycomb cells that wind through the cellars with dimly lit spaces, hosting delicacies of all kinds: from herbal teas to jams and fine wines.

The tasting becomes the prelude to an excursion to discover up close the life of the alpine pastures and witness the processing of Bitto directly in the places where it is born.

Among the most suggestive itineraries, the one that starts from Morbegno, climbing the road to Albaredo San Marco, along the provincial road of the San Marco Pass. From here the route, to be done on foot or, in the first section also by mountain bike, crosses some of the most suggestive alpine pastures of the Valley where the Bitto River flows: Baitridana, Alpe Piazza, Alpe Lago, Pedena and Orta Soliva. The route winds through beech and larch forests, ancient summer pastures and high-altitude meadows, offering splendid panoramas of lower Valtellina, Lake Como and the Masino-Disgrazia group. Among the unmissable stops are the Alpe Piazza Refuge and the small lake of Alpe Lago, the only natural body of water in the valley. With approximately 7-8 hours of walking and 800 meters of elevation gain, this is one of the most complete treks of the Valtellina Orobie.

For those who want to stay and tour the town, don't forget to visit Palazzo Malacrida: since the eighteenth century it stands in "Scima ai cà", an ancient Morbegno village that develops entirely vertically and close to the mountain. On the occasion you can visit the Latteria Sociale della Valtellina, where you can admire ancient wooden tools and the coldera, the large copper pot where cheeses were prepared, and stock up on dairy products.

For info: www.ctcb.it and Municipality of Albaredo San Marco Alpe Piazza Refuge

2. Sondrio and the tradition of Bresaola della Valtellina IGP

Continuing towards Sondrio you enter the heart of the Bresaola della Valtellina IGP supply chain, a product that symbolizes the territory. The capital city represents a reference point representative of the entire production area, delimited by the borders of the province of Sondrio, to learn about a tradition that for centuries has linked the processing of beef, alpine climate and local gastronomic culture.

From here you venture out for the treks offered by the Valtellina Nascosta site under the banner of the right sandwich to recharge your batteries. Among the most suggestive is the route that leads to the Castle of Mancapane and the nearby Castel Grumello, crossing forests, ancient rural settlements and a characteristic mill. Upon arrival, the panorama of the terraced vineyards makes a stop with a sandwich of Bresaola della Valtellina IGP even more special or, for those who desire a more gourmet experience, at the Castel Grumello refreshment stand, overlooking one of the most beautiful landscapes of Valtellina. For info: Bresaola della Valtellina Protection Consortium

Castel Grumello Refreshment Stand Via Sant'Antonio, 645, 23020 Montagna In Valtellina SO - ristorogrumello@alice.it - www.ristorogrumello.com

3. Calici Valtellina: On August 10 in Sondrio the magic of wine glasses under the stars

The magic of the night of San Lorenzo meets the enological excellence of Valtellina with Calici Valtellina, the event that on Monday, August 10, from 6 PM to midnight, transforms the historic center of Sondrio into a large open-air tasting route. Between Palazzo Martinengo and Castel Masegra, crossing alleys and squares of the center, enthusiasts can savor the wines of the territory and meet producers directly, discovering stories, traditions and characteristics of each label. Grand finale at Castel Masegra with a tasting dedicated exclusively to Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG, created in collaboration with Onav Sondrio: a toast under the stars to celebrate one of the wines that symbolize Valtellina.

For info: Vini di Valtellina

4. Chiuro and Ponte in Valtellina - Between dairies, farms and apple orchards

The stops in Chiuro and Ponte in Valtellina tell the richness of mountain agriculture. Here it is possible to visit the farms where Valtellina Casera DOP is born, the Valtellina dairy cheese that is a fundamental ingredient in emblematic dishes such as Pizzoccheri and Sciatt, learn firsthand about the cultivation of Valtellina Apples IGP. In Ponte in Valtellina the experience is also enriched by a suggestive appointment with the sky thanks to the "Astronomical Observatory that bears the name of "Giuseppe Piazzi" (illustrious astronomer of "pontasche" origins, founder of the Astronomical Observatory of Palermo, famous for his work of observation and calculation of the starry vault and for the discovery of the planet Ceres) which offers the opportunity to conclude the day observing the stars immersed in the quiet of the valley.

Latteria di Chiuro Via Stelvio, 18, 23030 Chiuro SO www.comune.ponteinvaltellina.so.it/

5. The Via dei Terrazzamenti and heroic viticulture

The Via dei Terrazzamenti is the ideal route to discover the most authentic soul of Valtellina. About 70 kilometers long, it connects Morbegno to Tirano crossing the sunniest slope of the Rhaetic Alps, where terraced vineyards tell centuries of human work and ingenuity. It is here that the famous heroic viticulture takes shape, shaped by kilometers of dry stone walls, whose art of construction is recognized as UNESCO intangible heritage. Along the route you can walk or cycle among panoramic rows, ancient villages, churches, historic wineries and farm stays. A slow journey that leads to the discovery of the great wines of the territory - Alpi Retiche IGT, Rosso di Valtellina DOC, Valtellina Superiore DOCG and Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG - with the possibility of stopping at wineries along the route to taste wines where they are born, immersed in one of Italy's most spectacular vineyard landscapes. Here also passes the famous Valtellina Wine Trail, but also the Marian Path of the Alps (click here for more info), a trekking itinerary among the Marian places of worship in Valtellina.

For info: https://www.valtellina.it/it/via-dei-terrazzamenti

6. Teglio, home of pizzoccheri

Along the Valtellina Path, an unmissable stop is Teglio, a panoramic village at 900 meters altitude, overlooking the Adda valley and the Orobie. Considered the home of Pizzoccheri della Valtellina IGP, the famous dish made with buckwheat flour, cabbage, potatoes, butter and Valtellina Casera DOP cheese and celebrated by the New York Times. Here, with the ladies of the Pizzocchero Academy, it is possible to attend workshops and demonstrations that tell the original recipe passed down through generations. The village then invites you to stroll among historic buildings, buckwheat fields and to visit the Menaglio Mill, one of the few still functioning water mills in the valley, where grain is still ground by small local producers. For info: Teglioturismo.com – Menaglio Mill 7. Tirano The Red Bernina Train, UNESCO heritage, is the highest railway route in the Alps and connects Tirano to St. Moritz crossing splendid landscapes: not just a simple journey but something magical that remains in your heart. Boarding the mythical red train is equivalent to immersing yourself along a breathtaking panoramic route of mountain landscapes, alpine lakes wrapped in silence, passing through Campocologno and Campascio and then up, towards the incredible glaciers of Bernina and Morteratsch. Before departing it is worth visiting Tirano and savoring the Chisciöi, delicious fritters made with buckwheat flour filled with Valtellina Casera DOP (here the recipe). This delicacy, rooted in peasant culinary tradition, is an authentic gastronomic symbol of the city. For info and reservations: https://www.treninorosso.it/

www.valtellina.it www.valtellinadopeigp.it