Cercino
The Province of Sondrio: A Picturesque and Mountainous Destination
The province of Sondrio, located in the Lombardy region, is a magical and enchanting place composed mainly of valleys that run longitudinally, among which the main ones are the Valtellina and Valchiavenna. The territory is predominantly mountainous and is home to the highest mountains in Lombardy belonging to the Rhaetian Alps. One of the most surprising features of this province is its vastness, which also includes high mountain municipalities such as Livigno, located at almost 2000 meters above sea level.
The province is bordered by some of Italy's most beautiful regions: to the north and west it borders Switzerland (Canton of Grisons), to the west it borders the provinces of Como and Lecco, to the south it borders the province of Bergamo, and to the east it borders the provinces of Brescia and Trentino-Alto Adige (autonomous province of Trento and autonomous province of Bolzano).
A Province Rich in Fluvial Basins
One of the unique things about the province of Sondrio is that it is the only Italian province located in three different primary alpine river basins. The Val di Lei, a municipality of Piuro, hosts the Reno di Lei which flows into the North Sea in the Netherlands (near Rotterdam), through the Rhine Posterior and the Rhine River itself. The main river of the province is the Adda, which forms the Valtellina and whose waters flow into the Adriatic Sea through the Po. Finally, the Aqua Granda stream and other minor streams, through the artificial lake called Livigno, empty into the Inn River in Swiss territory and then join the Danube in northern Austria. The waters of the Livigno basin are therefore Danubian and therefore end up in the Black Sea in northeastern Romania. This province only lacks the fourth major alpine basin, that of the Rhone River.
A Province Rich in History
The province of Sondrio has a very interesting history. An important European canal, it was for centuries the fastest route of communication between Central Europe and the Italian peninsula. Therefore, it was the object of continuous expansionist intentions by neighboring peoples. In ancient times, it was inhabited by Celtic-Ligurian (Leponzi) and Rhaetian (Camuni) populations and subsequently Romanized after the advent of Roman domination.
After the end of Roman domination, it passed under the Longobard and then Frankish domination. Later, the emperors assigned the provincial territory to the bishops of the Diocese of Como, to which it still belongs today.
In the fourteenth century, the western territory passed under the dominion of the Visconti and then of the Sforza of the duchy of Milan, while the eastern one constituted the extreme boundary of the Republic of Venice. In 1512, it passed to the dominion of the Canton of Grisons, during which the so-called Sacred Slaughter occurred in 1620, in which 400 Protestants were killed (mostly Grisons). Giacomo Robustelli, the leader of the revolt, declared the independence of Valtellina. Valchiavenna, which had commercial ties with the ruling class, did not take part. The bloody insurrection of Catholics against Protestants was fomented by Spain (which had the duchy of Milan) and by Valtellina nobles expropriated by Grisons nobles.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the province of Sondrio is an astonishing Italian province that offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature and history. Its particular geographical position, between mountains and valleys, means that it is rich in river basins, true natural jewels that constitute one of its main tourist attractions. Its historical heritage, moreover, is the result of centuries of domination that have left their mark on the province. Visiting the province of Sondrio means discovering the beauty of nature and history in a place where time seems to have stopped, and where one can enjoy moments of serenity and peace.
