Val Masino (
Western Lombard
Western Lombard is a group of dialects of Lombard, a Romance language spoken in Italy. It is widespread in the Lombard provinces of Milan, Monza, Varese, Como, Lecco, Sondrio, a small part of Cremona (except Crema and its neighbours), Lo ...
: ''Val Màsen'') is a ''
comune
The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...
'' (municipality) in the
Province of Sondrio
The Province of Sondrio ( it, provincia di Sondrio) is in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Its provincial capital is the city of Sondrio. As of 2017, it has a population of 181,403.
History
The Province was established in 1815, within ...
in the
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
region
Lombardy
Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...
, located about northeast of
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
and about northwest of
Sondrio
Sondrio (; lmo, Sùndri; rm, Sunder; archaic german: Sünders or ; la, Sundrium) is an Italian city and ''comune'' and Provincial Capital located in the heart of the Valtellina. , Sondrio counts approximately 21,876 inhabitants (2015) and it is ...
, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 962 and an area of .
[All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute ]Istat
The Italian National Institute of Statistics ( it, Istituto nazionale di statistica; Istat) is the main producer of official statistics in Italy. Its activities include the census of population, economic censuses and a number of social, economic ...
.
Val Masino and Val Di Mello are one of the most renowned areas for all climbing disciplines (
Sportsclimbing, trad multipitching,
bouldering
Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help sec ...
and
alpinism
Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, ...
). It has become famous internationally through the
Melloblocco Melloblocco is an international bouldering competition, which is held annually in Val Masino
Val Masino (Western Lombard dialect, Western Lombard: ''Val Màsen'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Sondrio in the Italy, Italian regio ...
bouldering festival, which brings together thousands of climbers from all over the world.
The municipality of Val Masino contains the ''
frazioni
A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist era (1922–1943) as ...
'' (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Bagni del Masino, Case Sparse, Cataeggio, Filorera, Piana, San Martino, Visido di Fuori.
Val Masino borders the following municipalities:
Ardenno
Ardenno is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan and about west of Sondrio.
The municipality of Ardenno contains the ''frazioni'' (subdivisions, mainly villages a ...
,
Bondo (Switzerland),
Buglio in Monte
Buglio in Monte is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan and about west of Sondrio. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,066 and an area of .All demo ...
,
Chiesa in Valmalenco
Chiesa in Valmalenco is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan and about north of Sondrio, on the border with Switzerland. The English for "Chiesa in Valmalenco" is ...
,
Civo
Civo is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 Miles(95 km) northeast of Milan and about 15 Miles (24 km)west of Sondrio. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1 ...
,
Novate Mezzola
Novate Mezzola is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about west of Sondrio, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,71 ...
,
Stampa
Stampa is a former municipality in the Maloja district of the Swiss canton, Graubünden. It is now part of the municipality of Bregaglia.
History
Stampa is first mentioned after 1354 as ''Stamppa'' and was named so in honor of the Stampa famil ...
(Switzerland),
Vicosoprano
Vicosoprano is a former municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden and is the largest village in the Val Bregaglia. It's now part of the municipality of Bregaglia.
History
Vicosoprano is first mentioned in 1096 as ...
(Switzerland).
Demographic evolution
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Free-Climbing
With its tall granite cliffs and boulders, Val di Mello is often called “Little Yosemite”. It has historic and ecological similarities with the famous Californian park and is a not-to-be-missed destination for climbing enthusiasts. In the Valley is possibile to practice all the disciplines:
Sportsclimbing, trad multipitching,
bouldering
Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help sec ...
and
alpinism
Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, ...
.
The valley of Val Masino/Val di Mello had become famous thanks to the MelloBlocco event, the biggest bouldering festival all over the world.
There are more then 2000 bouldering routes (grade from 5a to 8c) and more then 200 Sportclimbing routes (grade from 5a to 9a grade).
The most iconic Sportclimbing area is "Sasso Remenno", with the largest and bigger glacial rock deposit in Europe. Its walls offer a variety of styles from overhangs to crack, and especially slabs.
The main routes bolter is Simone Pedeferri (the local climber legend) who has promoted the entire area from 90's til now.
References
Cities and towns in Lombardy
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