Distance: 19,6 Km
Walking time: 7 hours
The first stage clings to the Orobic Alps side of Valtellina and follows the course of the River Adda upstream. On this beautiful stretch, you can visit the Marian shrine of the Beata Vergine dell’Immacolata in Andalo.
Just a few kilometres from the northern tip of Lake Como, Piantedo marks the start of the Via Occidentale, the western approach of the Cammino mariano delle Alpi. From the Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie e del Suffragio in Valpozzo, the route passes a string of small villages on the Orobic Alps side of the valley until you reach the Church of the Beata Vergine Immacolata in the old part of Andalo. From here, the route continues before reaching the provincial road to Val Gerola, the home of Bitto DOP cheese, and dropping down into Morbegno, a lively town with a vibrant historic centre and small boutiques selling local produce. The first stage ends at the Church of the Beata Vergine delle Grazie, locally referred to as ‘la gisèta’, the little church.
