The best mountain hikes around Valbondione

Monte Madonnino is a peak in the Orobie Alps, 2,502 meters high, located on the natural border between Val Brembana and Val Seriana. It owes its name to the small statue of the Madonna placed on the summit, an exceptional panoramic point from which you can admire giants such as Pizzo del Diavolo di Tenda and Monte Rosa.

A passage that may frighten the less experienced but is safe and without major difficulties

Merelli Refuge at Coca: a rugged and fascinating place in the Orobie Alps The Mario Merelli Refuge at Coca, at 1,891 meters, is one of the most iconic spots in the Coca Valley. Dedicated to the Bergamo mountaineer Mario Merelli, it retains his spirit: essential, authentic, deeply rooted in the mountains. Its location is what immediately strikes you: a natural balcony leading to the basin of the Orobie Giants, dominated by Pizzo Coca, Redorta, Scais, and Porola, a cluster of peaks that creates an imposing and almost solemn amphitheater. The ascent from Valbondione The classic access starts from Valbondione, near the village of Grumetti. The trail climbs steeply from the start, gaining altitude with regular switchbacks. It's a route that many describe as steep but safe, challenging enough to give you a sense of the mountain without ever becoming technical or exposed. Once out of the forest, the valley opens up and the dark walls of the Coca appear; The final, more challenging stretch leads to the refuge, which suddenly appears on a panoramic hill. The effort is always rewarded: those who arrive speak of its astonishing beauty and a setting that remains in their hearts. A refuge that tells a story The Merelli is a base for climbing Pizzo Coca and for crossings to the Brunone and Curò refuges, but it is also a place of memory. Inside, you can feel the legacy of Mario Merelli, and the atmosphere is that of the refuges of old: simple, welcoming, and sincere. It is a refuge that is not reached by chance: it is reached with commitment, and perhaps for this very reason, it leaves a profound impression.

The Chapel of San Carlo, located as you ascend from the Tezzi Alti of Gandellino toward the Sedornia Valley, is a small Alpine place of devotion dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo, a saint widely venerated throughout Lombardy. Its origins are linked to popular tradition and the widespread presence of the Borromean cult in the Bergamo valleys, especially between the 17th and 18th centuries, when many rural communities erected chapels and votive stones to ask for protection from disease, famine, and natural disasters. The chapel is located along an ancient path connecting the Tezzi hamlets and the Sedornia pastures: a necessary passageway for shepherds, farmers, and travelers. For this reason, the local community chose to erect a small, simple, stone sacred building here as a sign of protection for those tackling the climb to the mountain pastures. Its location, slightly raised from the trail and overlooking the Sedornia stream, recalls the typical function of Alpine votive chapels: to bless the path and protect the valley. Over time, the chapel has become a symbol of identity for the residents of Gandellino and Tezzi. It is still carefully maintained today and is part of local cultural itineraries, as evidenced by tourist itineraries that include it among the area's historical points of interest.

The Spiazzi dell'Acqua Picnic Area is one of the most peaceful and pleasant spots in the Gandellino area, surrounded by greenery and perfect for a relaxing break before or after a hike. Located in an easily accessible clearing, it offers tables, natural shade, and a cool atmosphere thanks to the proximity to the water. It's a simple yet meticulously maintained spot, ideal for families, groups, or anyone looking to enjoy a quiet moment in nature. Its secluded location and wooded setting make it a small haven of peace, convenient to reach yet far from the noise.

The erratic boulder, a reddish-purple Verrucano parallelepiped, has a volume of approximately 20 m3 and protrudes approximately 130 cm from the ground. The east and west walls have detached from the boulder due to weathering, rotating slightly outward and reveal the outline of steps carved to facilitate access to the boulder. The upper part, slightly concave and sloping toward the valley, features several incisions, cup marks, and channels, roughly crafted but arranged with a certain symmetry: they are distributed mainly along three parallel lines. The north-facing face also displays a series of cup-marked incisions arranged in an oblique line. The shape and distribution of these incisions are such that they cannot be considered natural in origin. This altar boulder was presumably a sacred place of the ancient priests, the Celtic Druids. Perhaps a place of sacrifice. According to studies conducted here and elsewhere in the Alps, it is believed that the altar stone was used for sacred rites between the third and first millennium BC. In reality, the sacredness of this place extends beyond prehistory. The name "Sedornia" is a transformation of the Roman name "Sáturnia," thus another religious element, the god Saturn, god of nature, prosperity, and abundance.

Lake Spigorel is a small alpine lake in the Sedornia Valley, accessible from Tezzi Alti (Gandellino) via CAI trail 309. It is a popular destination for its wild location between Monte Barbarossa and Vigna Vaga. 🚶‍♂️ Route from Tezzi Alti Key details Start: Tezzi Alti (969 m) Arrival: Lake Spigorel (approximately 1,800 m) Difficulty: Hiking (E) Duration: Outward journey: ~3 hours Return journey: ~2 hours Elevation gain: ~830 m General route outline Take the forest road of the Sedornia Valley. Pass by the Chapel of San Carlo (1,163 m). Continue through woods and pastures to the Vigna Vaga huts. The final stretch climbs steeply toward the lake basin. ⭐ Why go there Wild and untouched environment. Excellent viewpoint over the Sedornia Valley. Option to continue toward Sponda Vaga or Rifugio Mirtillo for longer itineraries.

A very characteristic refuge at the foot of the Presolana at 1,940 meters. It can be climbed from Teveno or Colere (in approximately 1 hour 45 and 2 hours 30 minutes). Several peaks can be reached from the refuge; the Curò refuge can be reached via the Giro delle Orobie trail.