Via Bregaglia 3rd stage: Soglio - Chiavenna

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Chiavenna (IT)

The continuation to Castasegna follows the asphalt road that goes up to the village. Further down, at a small building, you can leave it and follow the old path that describes a direct line, crossing the road and coming out among chestnut trees at the stables of Plazza. At this point, you turn into a natural road that branches off to the right (indication Castasegna). After a short distance you can see a nice example of alpine road tunnel, which passes behind a powerful waterfall, the road overcomes the torrent. The last stretch runs through the vast chestnut groves of Brentan until the houses of Castasegna. After the border post you enter the Italian part of the Bergell and follow the cycle path to the dam of Villa di Chiavenna. You cross the dam wall and reach the hamlet of San Barnaba. The yellow signs lead to Chete, then you follow the municipal road and then a footpath to Canete. A beautiful mule track, lined with the small devotional chapels of the Via Crucis, leads down to the junction at the small dam. Just before it, turn left and follow the cycle path again until you reach the hamlet of Giavere. Again you cross the bridge to the other side of the valley and cross the main road; then you turn into a small road, initially asphalted, until you reach the village of Bregalone, which has beautiful chestnut groves. After the stables of Vallata, the signs on the left lead to a footpath through chestnut groves and vineyards that runs down to the hamlet of Santa Croce, where there is the small and very ancient round church; then, after crossing two bridges, first over the Mera, then over the Aurosina stream, you pass the beautiful church of San Martino. The beautiful asphalted road crosses the chestnut grove of Aurogo and later, crossing the wide meadows in the area "La Ruina. Arrived at the houses of the hamlet of Borgonuovo, you go through the village streets towards the waterfalls of Acquafraggia and the nearby village of Sant'Abbondio. A small road near the single leaning church tower, the only testimony that survived the flooding of the ancient village of Sant'Abbondio, leads to the crossing of the wide bed of the Drana stream and beyond it to Palazzo Vertemate, whose visit is highly recommended. The last part of the long itinerary described here first follows the village streets of Prosto and then stops towards the church beyond the bridge over the Mera. This church is easily recognizable by its high bell tower (a few steps from here is the interesting soapstone museum with workshop); continuing along the grotti of Prosto, you enter the area of the Glacial Mill Park (Marmitte dei Giganti), following the bike path along the river bank and easily reaching the town of Chiavenna.