Scalve Valley
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Infinite
Mountain
Scalve
The term Scalve is attributed to a word with Celtic origins “Skald”, which referenced a deep or narrow crack in a rock. It could possibly be referring to gorges, slowly eroded by the Dezzo’s stream, or to the excavation of the mines, present in these localities since ancient times. Today the Val di Scalve is a welcoming tourism and ski resort, prepared to receive you with hospitality and warmth.
Colere is placed in a unique position on the slopes of the north side of the Presolana and the Monte Ferrante. This characteristic renders the village a coveted destination for all the lovers of the sport and of nature. In the winter the Presolana’s massif guarantees temperatures and constant snow for the more demanding skiers. During the hottest months, instead, the alpine environment of Colere becomes a great gym, naturally shaded, for climbers and passionate trekkers.
The Via Mala was an ancient route that connected the Val di Scalve with the Valcamonica, connecting the hemlets of Dezzo and Angolo Terme. It was obtained by literally escavating a road in the rocky walls dug up by the Dezzo’s stream.
Today accessible on foot, from the car park in the locality Casa Cantoniera, until to the panoramic point, and offers spectacular and fairytale glimpses, especially in the winter when the water falls transform into imposing ice columns.
The trade of metals in Valle di Scalve has very old origins, the whole of the Valley was involved, but especially the habitat of Colere represented the centre for extraction of fluorite. It is a mineral that forms crystals in the forms of cubes and, if exposed to rays of ultraviolet, presents a fluorescence phenomenon that takes the name right from the mineral.
Visit the Zanalbert museum
It is a perfect example of industrial redevelopments of a building that arose in the beginning of the nineteenth century and intended for storage of fluorite extracted from the mines, at around two thousand meters above sea level.
Proloco Colere 0346 54051
Already forty years before the most well known disaster of Valjont, the Val di Scalve had suffered a similar fate. The Gleno dam, 260 metres long and filled for the first time on the 22nd October 1923, gave in on the next 1st December, pouring 6 million cubic metres of water on the valley. In the tragedy over 400 people lost their lives.
Today, walking along paths of different lengths and difficulty, it is possible to reach a part of the retaining wall of the dam that still exists.
In a historic building on two floors, you can immerse yourself into a unique journey to the past, exploring an extraordinary collection of authentic memorabilia that tells a story of one of the most important periods of the 20th century.
Original uniform, weapons, military vehicles and even airforce aircrafts perfectly restored, other than historic documents, maps, photographs and emotional testimonial of heroes and tragedies: the museum is a place for reflection and learning, an educational experience for the whole family, that celebrates the courage and humanity in a period of great challenge.
For information and reservations:
335-6262843
info@museostoricomilitare.it
All our Alps are rich with tradition, customs and traditions that date back to ancient times. The Val is Scalve is no less: from the Spalla to the Capù, from Fecc to Creste, the flavours are enhanced on our table accompanied by polenta, game, mushrooms and cheese. These last ones, especially, merit their own chapter.
The most renowned is the Formagella di Scalve, whose success is rewarded every day by the Latteria Sociale di Scalve by many passionate tasters, who come back or discover for the first time the unique taste of this.
Moving on the soft snow with snowshoes is an emotional experience that puts you in direct contact with nature in the splendid frame of the Orbine Alps.
On reserving, from December an accessible track for everyone and without a particular difficulty will be done. A great occasion to pass a day in immersed company in uncontaminated nature.
For information:
0346 1903825
0346 54051
In the complex known as “Miniera Gaffione”, they unravel adventures guided by the object of rediscovering and transmitting to the future generations the rich story and the mining culture of Valle di Scalve.
Immerse in a mining atmosphere coming on board a picturesque train, that will take you deeper into the heart of the mountain. Subsequently, carrying on on foot, accompanied by an expert guide, the secrets of over 2000 years of mining history will be revealed to you, illustrating the methods of extraction of minerals and the extreme conditions that the miners operated in.
For information and reservations:
347 816 3286
miniereskimine@gmail.com
www.minieraschilpario.net
The Val Di Scalve welcomes you with majesty and generosity of the Bergamese Orobie Alps, offering magnificent panoramas on the northern slopes of the Presolana and on the chain of the Adamello.
In the valley there are four villages, Azzone, Colere, Schilpario and Villminore. The access to the valley is guaranteed by more directions, rendering it a place easily reachable from Bergamo, Brescia and Milan.
