Valtellina

Map of the Valtellina

A view of Valtellina

The church of Tresivio

Valtellina or the Valtelline valley (occasionally spelled as two words in English: Val Telline); (Western Lombard: Valtulina, Italian: Valtellina, German: Veltlin, Romansh: Vuclina) is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, its hot spring spas, its cheeses (in particular Bitto, named after the torrent Bitto) and its wines. In past centuries it was a key alpine pass between northern Italy and Germany and control of the Valtelline was much sought after, particularly during the Thirty Years' War.

Geography

The most important commune of the valley is Sondrio; others include Aprica, Morbegno, Tirano, and Bormio. Livigno, although on the northern side of the alpine watershed, can also be considered to be part of Valtellina as it falls within the province of Sondrio.

History

Political

During the 16th, 17th and 18th century the Valtellina was part of Graubünden, which was then a country independent of Switzerland, but is now the easternmost canton of Switzerland. Graubünden is the area in which German, Romansh and Italian are spoken and hence during 16th century rule by Graubünden, the region was known varyingly as Veltlin, Westtirol (West Tyrol), and as the Welsche Vogteien ("Foreign Bailiwicks"). During the Thirty Years War the Valtellina was the theater for an intense military and diplomatic struggle among France, the Habsburg powers and the local authorities for control of the passes from Lombardy to Austria that lead through the Valtellina territory.

In 1797 the growing power of the First French Republic created the Cisalpine republic in Northern Italy. On 10 October 1797, the French supported a revolt in the Valtellina against the Graubünden (the "Grey Leagues"; Grisons in French, now a Swiss Canton) and joined the Cisalpine Republic.

The world's first AC locomotive (1898-1902). Power supply: 3-phase 15 Hz AC, 3000V, (AC motor 70km/h). It was designed by Kálmán Kandó in Ganz Company, Hungary.

Industrial

Industrially, the area is famous as the home of the world's first mainline electrified railway. The electrification of the Valtellina line took place in 1902, using three-phase power at 3,600 V, with a maximum speed of 70 km/h. The system was designed by the brilliant Hungarian engineer Kálmán Kandó who was employed by main contractors the Budapest-based Ganz company.

Culture and language

In the region north of Morbegno in the Costiera dei Cech live a cultural group believed to descend from an 8th century Frankish invasion of Italy. The area was originally a mix of Romansch and Italian languages but now Italian is the dominant language.

Panorama of the Valtellina from Alpe Piazzola in the comune of Castello dell'Acqua.

Mussolini's last stand

During the last months of World War II, the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and other diehard fascist leaders of the Italian Social Republic (RSI) proposed making a "last stand" against the advancing Allied armies in the Valtellina. The Fascist Party secretary Alessandro Pavolini was the main proponent of the idea, which he first raised with Mussolini in September 1944.^[1] He pointed out that the valley was ringed with fortifications dating from World War I, and had its own electricity generating capacity. In the last months of 1944 Mussolini's government began moving munitions and food stores to the area. By January 1945, however, no firm decision to make a stand in the Valtellina had been taken. The Germans, represented by Ambassador Rudolf Rahn, were opposed to the idea. In March, with the Allies advancing into the Po valley, Mussolini's Cabinet again discussed the idea. The RSI's military commander, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, who believed the war was already lost, opposed the plan. This ensured that no serious military preparations were made.^[2] In early April Pavolini again raised the plan, which he called "the Epic of the 50,000," claiming that 50,000 Blackshirts would follow Mussolini if he made a stand in the Valtellina. The Germans, who by this time were negotiating with the Allies to surrender their armies in Italy, remained adamantly opposed. Filippo Anfuso, the RSI's under-secretary for foreign affairs, pointed out that valley was already mostly in the hands of the partisans.^[3] By mid April, the Valtellina plan was no longer a realistic possibility. Although Mussolini continued to fantasise about dying a heroic death there, the plan had no serious support. When Mussolini left Milan on 25 April, heading north, it was assumed he was going to the Valtellina, but his intentions were never made clear - he told some people he would go to Bolzano, in the province of Bolzano-Bozen, to join up with German forces. In any event Mussolini's capture by the partisans at Dongo on 27 April ended any possibility of a fascist last stand.^[4]

Wines

In Valtellina the wines are produced mainly by Chiavennasca (the local name of Nebbiolo grape variety). Generally the quality of the wine is high, and most wines have the appellation DOC and DOCG. The most well-known red wines are: Inferno, Grumello, Sassella and Sforzato (Sfurzat).

Valposchiavo

In the lower part of Valposchiavo, in Switzerland some wines are also produced, similar to the Italian wines, but with differing regulations (i.e. appellation and allowance of sugar addition, or chaptalization).

Notable people

The ski mountaineer Fabio Meraldi was born in Valtellina.

See also

• Valtellina disaster

References

Further reading: F Pieth: Bündnergeschichte, 1982, ISBN 3-85894-002-X

1. ^ Ray Moseley, The Last Days of Mussolini, 176
2. ^ Ray Moseley, The Last Days of Mussolini, 203
3. ^ Ray Moseley, The Last Days of Mussolini, 224
4. ^ Ray Moseley, The Last Days of Mussolini, 269

External links

• An extensive history of the Valtelline area
• Tourist information

Coordinates: 46°10′N 9°52′E / 46.167°N 9.867°E / 46.167; 9.867

This article on a location in the Province of Sondrio is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e