Lovero

Geographically speaking, the predominantly agricultural village of Lovero touches on both sides of the valley, making for a picturesque, varied landscape with Alpine pastures and traditional cabins known as maggenghi on the side towards Valcamonica, and the other on the slopes on Monte Masuccio.  

Much of Lovero’s charm lies in the appeal of its ancient sites including the Church of Sant'Alessandro. With panoramic views, it has a large portico that leads to an external ossuary as well as well-preserved paintings and frescoes by Cipriano Valorsa and Giovannino da Sondalo. If you’re following the Sentiero dei Castelli trail, which skirts through the bottom of the valley past fascinating architecture and typical local crops to link Tirano with Grosio, you’ll stumble across this picture-perfect church and it’s well worth a stop.

The Le Piane natura area has been mapped out next to the River Adda on the banks of the man-made basin and not far from the hydroelectric power station – it’s home to numerous way-marked trails that serve as a wonderful way to explore the area with its reed beds, ponds, and willow groves. It’s home to various aquatic species and interesting plants such as alders, willows and hazelnut trees that benefit from the soil’s high level of humidity here. Depending on the time of the year, you are likely to be serenaded by bird song and swept up by the floral perfumes when the park is in bloom. The park can be reached directly from the Sentiero Valtellina and there are several info boards on display.