Bergamo, Val Seriana

The Higher Seriana Valley territory extends on the southern and central mountainsides of the Orobie Alps. The morphology of the valley is one of a mountain-alpine landscape with rough mountain ranges with steep sides and deep valleys formed by the Serio River and its tributaries. The mild morphology of the glacial - origin Clusone tableland is an exception. The landscape is similar to the Dolomites in some spots, characterized by rose-coloured calcareous rocks and in others it is characterized by silicate dark rocks, from earlier times with respect to the calcareous ones. The fields, woods, pastures and rocks present a rich and precious flora. Daisies and yellow anemones blossom in the fields during the springtime and martagon lilies and sowbreads blossom in the woods during the warm season. Saint John lilies and edelweiss grow on the alpine pastures. The Seriane Orobie Alps also present seventy-seven endemic species among which the Comolli violet or Coca violet, the Lombardy Primula and the Presolana Saxifrage.
Clusone is the most important town and also the crossroads of the valley. The main roads for Oltre il Colle and Zambla, for Valbondione and its skiing resorts and highest peaks of the Orobie, for Lovere and the Iseo Lake and for the Presolana Pass all depart from this point. Passing through Castione and its surrounding villages, you can go around the most famous mountain of the Bergamo area, appreciated by skiers and excursionists alike, and go down into the Val di Scalve. The Pizzo della Presolana (2521 m) is a wide mountain with evident dolomite features dividing the Scalve valley from the area of Castione della Presolana. The northern wall of the mountain is quite impressive and presents important courses for skilled climbers. The Pizzo Formico (1637 m), is also an impressive peak towering over the Clusone valley in the south. An audacious and steep ridge begins from this peak on which a large cross stands. This point gives an excellent panorama of the area. Mount Gleno (2882 m) is a famous mount and many people go there especially on the Seriana side. It closes the Barellino valley on the east. Mount Pora (1880 m) and Mount Alto (1723 m) are the two most significant mounts of the mountain chain and separate the Castione della Presolana valley from the Lovere-Costa Volpino area. Mount Pora is one of the most important skiing areas of the Bergamo pre-Alps. Blum Peak (1297m) towers in the north over the town of Clusone and it is on the ridge separating the Clusone-Castione basin from Valzurio in the township of Oltressanda Alta.