Val di Mello

The largest protected area in Lombardy

Val di Mello is located a few kilometers from Sondrio and since 2009 is the largest protected nature reserve in Lombardy. It consists of two zones: an “integral” reserve, reserved for forestry personnel, and a “special zone”, on the orographic right, which includes small inhabited rural sites.

In summer, access by car is prohibited. We recommend that you leave your car in the municipality of San Martino. From here the route to reach the reserve on foot is almost flat and within everyone's reach and takes about 25 minutes. Shortly after entering, you reach the splendid Qualido lake and the famous “Bidet della Contessa”, characterized by crystal clear waters. The route includes about 2 hours of walking for one way, half along a flat mule track, between ponds, streams and waterfalls, and in the final part along a climb with about 400 meters of altitude in a dense forest. For those who wish, within the area there are some accommodation and refreshment facilities.

It is the ideal place for climbing enthusiasts. Here, in fact, there are several walls, including the Asteroid Precipice, the Metamorphosis Rock and Mount Qualido. There are also more than 300 sports climbing routes and every year there is the famous international bouldering meeting, the Melloblocco.