Valsassina

Italiano

Almost parallel to the famous branch of Lake Como, bounded by the majestic Grigne to the west and to the east by the Bergamo Pre-Alps, the verdant Valsassina opens up, which has an outlet to the north on the coast of the upper lake from Colico to Dorio and to the south between the slopes of the Grignetta and Monte due Mani. The real Valsassina starts from the hill of Balisio and spreads out in wide prairies interrupted by sweet hills shining with the green of the grasses punctuated by the lively colors of the flowers and by the darker patches of the trees. Everything is dominated by high mountains, among which the following stand out:

• The peaks of the Grigne group (rocks of marine origin) have undergone the action of atmospheric agents to such an extent that they present unexpected scenery; real towers rise high in the sky which, with numerous cavities and galleries inside, are a tempting destination for speleologists.
• The summit of Zuccone Campelli, opposite the Grigne, seems to close the basin. Formed by rocks of calcareous origin, it enlivens the panorama with its alternation of meadows and sudden spiers of various sizes. The basin full of pastures, chestnut and beech woods is currently home to many craft, industrial and tertiary activities and is crossed by the Pioverna stream whose sources rise just above the Balisio hill.
• The Pioverna river crosses the whole valley collecting the Cremeno - Troggia - Bobbia - Acquaduro - Freggerola tributary waters, forming a rich and sometimes picturesque water network to then channel itself into the deep fractures of the rocks and create particular effects which can be observed in the famous Bellano ravine or in the waterfall formed by the Troggia at Introbio.
• Pizzo dei Tre Signori behind the Zuccone Campelli (ancient border between the territories of the Duke of Milan, the Grisons and the Republic of Venice) is the border line with the Bergamo area. Contrasting the Grigne group with the red color of its rock (Verruccano Lombardo) we find La Nava di Baiedo which leads to the historic Rocca, a strategic point until a few decades ago as it allowed, given its position, to gaze from north to south with ease.

The conformation of the territory, defined by A. Stoppani as "one of the most beautiful morainic landscapes" demonstrates its geomorphological origins. After the settlement of the mountains, huge glaciers crept into the area occupied by the sea, continuing their erosive action, until due to telluric upheavals, the glaciers were replaced by a lake which gradually reabsorbed itself over the centuries. However, the valley remained characterized by the presence of morainic debris, a mass of stones that earned the denomination of Valsassina, i.e. the Valley of the Stones.[^][^]

References

1. "La Valsassina". altopianovalsassina.it. (in Italian). Retrieved 6 September 2016.
2. "La Valsassina". Altopiano Valsassina. (in Italian). Intenet Archive. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
3. "Valsassina". Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
4. "la valsassina". lavalsassina.com. (in Italian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
5. "Discover Valsassina". Lake Como tourism. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
6. "Valsassina News". valsassinanews.com. (in Italian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.