Campodolcino

A picturesque mountain commune in Valchiavenna, in the province of Sondrio, Campodolcino is a summer and winter holiday resort, an excellent departure point for excursions into the mountains of “alta Vallespluga”. The locality probably owes its name, already documented in 1186, to its position in a flat and open area. Administrative centre for the sole commune of the Valle di S. Giacomo, since the XVII century, in the past it based its economy on both “porten”, couriers who travelled from the valley to the Swiss canton of Grigioni, and the celebrated “grapàt” i.e. grappa distillers. Today, Campodolcino is a charming tourist village which displays some valuable monuments, like the Parish Church of S. Giovanni Battista, consecrated in 1528, modified in 1727 and in 1844 And the museum Muvis located into a XVI century building which testifies the historical and commercial relevance of Via Spluga for centuries. In the hamlet of Portarezza, visitors should certainly see the small church of S. Gregorio; at Fraciscio, the Church of S. Rocco; and in Motta, the Sanctuary di Nostra Signora d'Europa, with its large gold-plated statue of the Virgin. As regards its natural scenery, the ravine of the Rabbiosa torrent is of considerable interest, representing a truly natural monument in its own right.