1st ROUTE: Morbegno – Berbenno (24 km)

Terraced vineyards welcome the cyclist who takes the route from Morbegno, at the gateway to Valtellina. In the first 5 km, the Via begins to climb along the Cèch coastline, moving from the initial 200 meters to about 600 meters in the village of Dazio, providing pleasant views of the Adda plain and the town of Morbegno. Descending from Dazio we come to the village of Masino, where the stream of the same name allows us to enjoy the colors of nature, which are reflected in its waters. Further upstream lie numerous erratic boulders, including the
Prey (or Sasso) of Remenno
, the best known and largest monolith in Europe, a coveted destination for rock climbers.

The route continues through Ardenno: here, leaving the Church of San Lorenzo (of important artistic value) on the right, it climbs toward other villages to Gaggio and then Buglio in Monte, which welcomes visitors with its soaring bell tower. Leaving the village and passing through a small forest, the terracing returns to prominence, amidst expanses of vines, cultivated meadows and farms.

From here, in about 5 km with rather gentle slopes, you reach Berbenno, while the view can sweep over the valley floor and a large section of the Orobian Alps.

Length: 24 km
Uphill elevation gain: 970 m
Downhill elevation gain: 780 m
Highest point: 701 m
Lowest point: 225 m
Type of background: mixed

Municipality of departure: Morbegno
Place of departure: Morbegno
Municipality of arrival: Berbenno di Valtellina
Place of arrival: Berbenno di Valtellina

Recommended period: all year round

Useful links:
http://www.distrettoculturalevaltellina.mobi/it/via-terrazzamenti
http://www.altarezia.eu

The Terrace Trail is a route suitable for all bike lovers. Just over 70 km long, it runs through the Lower and Middle Valtellina and takes its name from the long rows of vines encountered on the way, with impressive visual impact. But in addition to vineyards and striking natural vistas, the Via dei Terrazzamenti offers a path of slow tourism, entering the most characteristic villages, discovering artisan workshops and stores of typical products, restaurants, wine stores and orchards. This local and cultural heritage is enriched even more by the remarkable monuments, churches, works of art and prehistoric sites along the Route.

The Via dei Terrazzamenti, which is maintained at an elevation between 300 and 800 meters (also on unpaved dirt roads), can be traveled in both directions in all seasons, but try to avoid the hottest summer days. Those who wish to tackle the Via consecutively can stay overnight at various locations along the route, while bus and rail connections allow return to the starting point for those who prefer to travel the individual stages in one day.

Credits gpx: Altarezia.eu and Distretto culturale della Valtellina
Credits ph: Luca Arzuffi, Jacopo Merizzi, Marco Brigatti, Ugo Zecca, Paola Balatti, Massimo Mandelli, Tamara Della Vedova and Fondazione Cariplo