Madesimo
Welcome to Madesimo!
Are you ready to discover everything there is to know about Madesimo? This municipality of 513 inhabitants in the province of Sondrio in Lombardy is a mountain resort located in Valle Spluga, at an altitude of 1550 meters. It is one of the most popular places for winter sports, but not just that. Let's discover the city together!
Physical geography
Territory
Madesimo is divided into four hamlets: Madesimo, Pianazzo, Isola and Montespluga. The hamlet of Pianazzo is where the town hall is located, while Montespluga is an alpine village located along the Strada statale 36 del Lago di Como e dello Spluga, which connects it to the Spluga Pass. Montespluga is a transit point along the transfrontier route of the Via Spluga and is a starting point for numerous hiking, mountaineering and ski mountaineering destinations. The hamlet is about 5 hours away from the nearest coastline (in Genoa), making Madesimo the furthest inhabited center in Italy from the sea!
History
Madesimo has a long history that dates back to the Roman era when the city was crossed by the Roman road "via Spluga," which connected Milan to Lindau through the Spluga Pass. For centuries the territory was part of the municipality of Val San Giacomo, but was broken up by the Austrians to weaken the strong local Swiss irredentism.
Between the late 19th century and the early 20th century, the poet Giosuè Carducci spent numerous seasons there, leaving evidence of his presence in some of his poems.
Official symbols
The municipal coat of arms of Madesimo is the ancient flag of Valle Spluga, consisting of a banner divided into three horizontal stripes, each of which is itself divided into four black, green, red, and yellow stripes symbolizing the districts of each third of the valley (inside, middle, and outside), with the effigy of Saint James the Greater in the center of a cartouche. However, the municipality has adopted another coat of arms and a gonfalon.
Society
Demographic evolution
Madesimo has 513 residents, but the population increases significantly during the winter season, when Madesimo becomes one of the most frequented places for winter sports.
Infrastructure and transport
The territory of Madesimo is crossed by the Strada statale 36 del Lago di Como e dello Spluga, which connects Milan to the border between Italy and Switzerland, passing through the Spluga Pass. In addition, the nearby town of Motta is connected to Madesimo by a funicular.
In conclusion, Madesimo is a gem of the province of Sondrio, an enchanting place to spend the winter holidays for sports, skiing on one of its numerous slopes or hiking in snowmobiles or snow kites. But Madesimo is also perfect in summer, with the possibility of hiking in the surrounding area or simply enjoying the relaxation immersed in nature. Don't miss this hidden gem in Lombardy!
