Valle San Martino – Lombardy: history, nature and panoramic passages between Lecco and Bergamo. The San Martino Valley extends between the eastern branch of Lake Como and the Adda, in a border strip between the provinces of Lecco and Bergamo. It is a small valley, squeezed between steep mountains and ancient terraces, full of historic villages, panoramic places and testimonies of different eras. 🏞️ Between cliffs, high meadows and wide-ranging views: The slopes of Mount Resegone and Mount Linzone offer extraordinary observation points over the lake, the plain and the Orobic Alps. Climbing through meadows and beech forests you reach mountain pastures, natural balconies and summit crosses. 👉 Tip: Reach Monte Tesoro from Carenno: an easy itinerary with one of the widest views in the area, also perfect for families. ⛰️ Historic mule tracks and forgotten routes: The valley is crossed by a dense network of paths and mule tracks that once connected the villages to each other and to the plain. Walking here means retracing the streets of charcoal burners, farmers and pilgrims, between dry stone walls, woods and old stone bridges. 👉 Tip: Start from Monte Marenzo and follow the path to the Hermitage of San Gregorio: a stretch full of views and local history. 🏘️ Stone villages and rural testimonies: The inhabited centers, such as Carenno, Erve, Rossino or Galbiate, preserve ancient nuclei with arcades, courtyards, washhouses and fountains. The peasant architecture and the signs of mountain life are still clearly visible, especially in the higher hamlets. 👉 Tip: Visit the small village of Somasca with the Sanctuary of San Girolamo Emiliani: a place suspended between spirituality and nature, overlooking the lake. 🌿 Protected areas and hidden biodiversity: The valley is part of the Monte Barro Regional Park system and touches the offshoots of the Colli di Bergamo Park. It is an area rich in biodiversity, where rocky environments, dry meadows and humid woods coexist. 👉 Tip: Explore the Valle dell'Inferno area: a particular micro-environment, accessible from Calolziocorte, with vertical walls and lush vegetation. 🥣 Home cooking and hill flavors: The gastronomic tradition of the San Martino Valley is expressed in simple and genuine dishes: legume soups, polenta with local cheeses, game and rustic desserts made with chestnut flour or honey. Numerous farmhouses enhance small-scale production. 👉 Tip: Book in a trattoria in Torre de' Busi: you can enjoy the local cuisine with a wide view of the valley and the Adda. Valle San Martino is a silent and stratified territory, where each path leads to a story, between living nature, carved stone and horizons that change step by step.