Tartano: Nature, Hiking Trails and Bitto Cheese

Tartano between Valley Trails and Protected Landscapes

Tartano takes you into a landscape where nature, trails and regional traditions exist closely side by side. Val Tartano offers numerous walks and hiking trails at low and medium elevations. In the upper part of Val Tartano, the Natura 2000 site IT2040029 Val Tartano covers around 1,450 hectares. It lies in the central-western part of the Orobie Valtellinesi Regional Park. In Tartano, you therefore encounter a range of elevations as well as an extensive protected natural area.

Glacial Cirques and a Water-Shaped Landscape

The extensive area of the Porcile Lakes lies in the upper Val Lunga, in glacial cirques—bowl-shaped landforms shaped by ice. Watercourses have also shaped the landscape of Val Tartano. Fast-flowing, turbulent waters left clear traces in the so-called Marmitte dei Giganti. They created landslide areas and small waterfalls, such as those in the gorge at the confluence of Val di Lemma and Val Budria.

Hiking along Ancient Trails

A dense network of mule tracks and hiking trails connects even remote places in Val Tartano. When planning your trip, the varying elevations of the trails are just as important as the diversity of the landscape. The hiking destinations in Val Tartano are also used for ski touring in winter.

Hamlets and Rural Architecture

The Foppa hamlet features examples of rural architecture and traditional craftsmanship. The buildings there date from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The hamlets of Basisc and Dosso dei Principi form another architectural ensemble: together, they make up a single continuous cluster of houses, crossed through the middle by an old mule track. In these places, the connection between residential buildings, craftsmanship and historic trails can be directly understood through concrete architectural forms.

Bitto and Polenta Taragna

Regional cuisine is also part of a closer exploration of Tartano. Together with the Bitto valleys, Tartano is part of the historic production area of Bitto cheese. Bitto cheese is described as the most important ingredient in polenta taragna.

An Excursion Destination Open All Year Round

The Ponte nel Cielo suspension bridge is open daily, all year round. Its clearly stated opening status makes it a concrete part of planning a visit around Tartano.

Forest Ecosystems and Regional History

The visitor center of the Orobie Valtellinesi Regional Park is located in Piana in Val Lunga, in a former school building. Wood serves as the central theme of the presentation. The exhibition begins with the past and aims to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the forest ecosystem. In this way, the center connects the history of the place with consideration of forest conservation.

More Destinations

For further orientation, you can also discover Prata Camportaccio, Bormio, Sondrio, Mazzo Di Valtellina, Bagni, Civo, Novate Mezzola and Sassella.

To the higher-level travel overview: Sondrio.