Piantedo between Monte Legnone and ancient paths

Piantedo between Monte Legnone and ancient paths

Piantedo combines a mountain landscape with areas that remain open and shaped by agriculture. Rifugio Scoggione is located in Piantedo on the northern slope of Monte Legnone; Monte Legnone is in the vicinity of Piantedo. Large green spaces, stables and extensive fields of maize and fodder crops can still be found in the northern and southern areas. Pizzo Alto, Pizzo Rotondo and Monte Rotondo are also located in the vicinity of Piantedo.

Mountain hikes with clearly defined stages

From Alpe Rusico, Rifugio Scoggione can be reached via a two-hour hike with an ascent of 850 metres. The ascent to Monte Legnone from Rifugio Scoggione is described as a three-hour hike with an elevation gain of 1,034 metres. The two sections can be viewed as consecutive parts of a day in the mountains: the second begins at the rifugio and continues to Monte Legnone. When planning, both the duration and the ascent of each individual section therefore count. The 850 and 1,034 metres of elevation gain belong to separate sections of the route and should each be considered separately when planning the timing.

The Sentiero del Viandante

The Sentiero del Viandante is approximately 45 km long and can be walked in four stages; each stage takes an average of about four hours, with the elevation difference ranging from 400 to 100 metres. It runs halfway up the slope through chestnut woods and olive groves, passing dry-stone walls and abandoned villages, with broad views over the lake. When planning a stage day, the average duration of about four hours provides the timeframe for the respective section.

History in the landscape and along the paths

The Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie e del Suffragio is the first sacred building encountered when entering the Valtellina from Lake Como. In the past, Piantedo was an obligatory transit point through Pian di Spagna thanks to the Scalotta or Scalottola road. The ruins of an old fortification were discovered in the Verdione area; it may have been a castle or a fortified house.

Connections across valleys and cultural areas

Piantedo's historic transhumance established close connections with Valchiavenna, particularly Valle Spluga and nearby Val Gerola. During the summer months, the farmers of Piantedo stayed in these areas with their livestock. The ruins of the Abbazia di San Pietro in Vallate, a church, are located nearby. The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale and Palazzo Malacrida are also in the vicinity. The summer months constitute the specific period of this historic livestock keeping.

Cycle path and travel planning

Piantedo is one of the local stations along the Sentiero Valtellina. The Sentiero Valtellina cycle route thus complements the hiking trails with another route through the landscape around Piantedo.

Further destinations

For further orientation, you can also consider Vestreno, Bindo, Vercurago, Montevecchia, Malgrate, Imbersago, Onno and Vendrogno.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecco.