Sondrio, a city of Longobard origins, is the provincial capital. The city offers quite a rich heritage, especially in its oldest quarter, “Scarpatetti” and in its string of aristocratic mansions. The surrounding countryside is unique, characterised by vine-cultivated terraces, supported by dry-stone walls. The Valmalenco Valley is located a few kilometres away from Sondrio. The valley is narrow at first, but then widens out into an extensive landscape, which is dominated by the Disgrazia, Bernina and Pizzo Scalino mountain chains. Chiesa in Valmalenco, Caspoggio e Lanzada with Chiareggio, Franscia e Primolo, form a tourist area with comfortable hotel accommodation and modern leisure and sports facilities (Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, hikes and excursions). All this takes place within a context of nature, history and ethnology.