Holiday apartment in Bianzone: Wine Landscape, Frescoes and Trails

A large part of the interior of the parish church of San Siro is decorated with frescoes by Cipriano Valorsa. This specific art-historical feature makes Bianzone interesting for you if, when choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you want to consider not only the landscape but also cultural impressions.

Culture, Wine and Local History

Since 2008, the Ecomuseo delle Terrazze Retiche has preserved and promoted Bianzone’s historical, cultural and scenic heritage. The village’s terraced character combines the history of its living environment with its landscape.

Bianzone has seven churches, including the churches in its hamlets, as well as frescoes on various house façades and wayside shrines along the roads to the meadows and fields. Along these paths, you encounter sacred and folk-art motifs not only inside churches but also along the roads leading into the surrounding area.

The Statua stele di Bianzone was found in 2021 in the rooms of Bianzone’s town hall and preserves traces of a prehistoric decoration carved into stone 5,000 years ago. The year 2021 refers to the time of its discovery, while the stone decoration dates from a much earlier era.

The Wine Museum originated from the school project “A spasso nelle vigne”, which introduced children to viticulture and winemaking and involved families in recovering old equipment. It covers both the cultivation of vines and the production of wine.

Tenuta La Gatta is located in a restored 16th-century Dominican monastery and is surrounded by 13 hectares of nature. This natural area gives the historic monastery a distinctly scenic setting.

Wine Landscape and Local Traditions

Tenuta La Gatta includes an old wine cellar, vineyards, an open-air salon and a historic residence in a Valtellina winery.

In Piazzeda, the Sagra di Sant’Anna is still celebrated in the second half of July; it combines a liturgical service in the small church with a day devoted to enjoying typical local dishes. The second half of July is therefore the key period for this festival in Piazzeda.

The Via del Vino runs through the terraced wine landscape of Bianzone’s Costiera. The route passes through vineyards whose terraces are part of the appearance of the Costiera.

Circular Routes and Active Days

Col d’Anzana terra di confine is a circular hiking trail starting and ending in Bratta. With the same starting and ending point, the route can be planned as a closed circular tour.

The Tappe dello Spirito circular route can also be travelled by bicycle. In addition to hiking, Tappe dello Spirito therefore offers the possibility of cycling along the route.

The Sentiero Valtellina is a cycling and walking route from Sondrio to Tirano that passes through Bianzone. Along this route, Bianzone lies between Sondrio and Tirano.

Paragliding takes place in the high-altitude location of Nemina Bassa in Bianzone. The high elevation of Nemina Bassa adds another active option to the trails and wine landscape.

Further places for planning your trip: Tirano, Maroggia, Chiuro, Tovo Di Sant’agata, Castione Andevenno, Caiolo, Villa di Tirano and Dazio.

To the higher-level travel overview: Sondrio.