Madesimo: winter sports, alpine trails and churches

Madesimo between mountain landscapes and local culture

Madesimo reveals several clearly distinct sides: winter sports, waterside trails, alpine nature, churches and regional cuisine.

Churches and rural architecture

The Church of San Martino e San Giorgio has a marble altar by Gabriele Longhi. The parish church of Madonna della Neve was built on the ruins of an earlier church. In the alpine pastures of Madesimo, there is rural architecture featuring houses traditionally built half of stone and half of logs.

Water, trails and alpine nature

The Cascata di Pianazzo has a drop of 180 metres. The trail to the Cascata di Pianazzo is an approximately 1.3-kilometre route intended for pedestrians and bicycles, with 150 metres of positive elevation gain. Anyone cycling to the Cascata di Pianazzo should allow for both the approximately 1.3-kilometre route and the 150 metres of positive elevation gain.

The Passeggiata lungo il fiume is an easy, 2.4-kilometre trail exclusively for pedestrians, running from the centre of Madesimo to the valley floor along the Torrente Scalcoggia. The first section to the village of Dogana Vegia is paved, suitable for pushchairs and lit at night. The Diga di Madesimo is a small dam in the town centre used for hydroelectric purposes, which can be viewed up close via a walking path suitable for everyone and lit at night. Those who choose the paved first section to Dogana Vegia should plan for a different trail length than that of the full route from the centre to the valley floor.

The Giardino Alpino Valcava above Madesimo covers 70,000 square metres at an altitude of between 1,800 and 1,900 metres. It can be reached from Madesimo by car or on foot. The Diga is in the town centre, whereas the Giardino Alpino Valcava is above Madesimo.

Winter sports and activities

The Ski Area Valchiavenna in Madesimo has 11 lifts and 34 ski runs. It stretches for 40 kilometres from the edge of the town to Pizzo Groppera and Alpe Motta. The ski area can be reached from Madesimo without a ski bus, as the lifts, including a gondola and chairlifts, start in the town.

The Centro sportivo di Madesimo includes a fitness room with treadmills and TechnoGym equipment, as well as a squash court. On the Torrente Scalcoggia, fly fishing without taking the catch is permitted in the first section from the valley floor; in the second section, unrestricted fishing is permitted. The Infopoint Madesimo provides public transport maps and timetables and offers advice on trekking, mountain biking routes, skiing and snowshoe hikes in winter.

Regional cuisine in the piazza

Pizzoccherata in Piazza is an annual event held in Madesimo. At Pizzoccherata in Piazza, pizzoccheri from Valchiavenna are served, prepared with white flour and stale bread, as well as potatoes, sage, garlic, young alpine cheese and plenty of melted butter.

More destinations

Isola, Chiareggio, Prosto, Campodolcino, Pianazzola, Valdidentro, Campo, Gordona

For the higher-level travel overview: Sondrio.