The best mountain hikes around Valbondione

cover charge 1€ extra bread 1€ barley soup 9€ gnocchi with cream, speck, Zola 13€ pasta with ragu 12€ polenta with goulash or stew 16€

Stage 5 - Rifugio Albani

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 Cappelletta di San Carlo, which you encounter when climbing from Tezzi Alti di Gandellino towards Val Sedornia, is a small place of alpine devotion dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo, a saint greatly venerated throughout Lombardy. Its origin is 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 markers to ask for protection against diseases, famines, and natural disasters. The chapel is located along an ancient connecting path between the hamlets of Tezzi and the pastures of Sedornia: a mandatory passage point for shepherds, farmers, and travelers. Precisely for this reason, the local community wanted to place a small, simple stone sacred building here, as a sign of protection for those undertaking the climb towards the mountain pastures. Its position, slightly raised from the path and overlooking the Sedornia stream, recalls the typical function of alpine votive chapels: to bless the journey and watch over the valley. Over time, the chapel has become an identity reference for the inhabitants of Gandellino and Tezzi. Even today, it is carefully maintained and is part of local cultural routes, as confirmed by tourist itineraries that include it among the historical points of interest in the area.

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 parallelepiped of reddish-purple verrucano, has a volume of about 20 cubic meters and emerges from the ground by about 130 cm. The walls facing East and West have detached from the boulder due to weathering, rotating slightly outwards and show an outline of carved steps to facilitate access to the boulder. The upper part, slightly concave and sloping towards the valley, features various rough-hewn but somewhat symmetrically arranged carvings, cupules, and small channels: they are mainly distributed along three parallel lines. The face facing North also shows a series of cup-shaped carvings arranged in an oblique line. The shape and distribution of these carvings are such that they cannot be considered of natural origin. This altar stone was presumably a sacred place for the ancient priests, the Druids of the Celts. Perhaps a place of sacrifice. According to studies carried out here and in other areas of the Alps, it is believed that the altar stone was used for sacred rites between the third and first millennia BC. In reality, the sacredness of this place is not only related to 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.