The valley without roads, where time has stopped

A paradise for hikers and nature lovers

Val Codera is a side valley of Valchiavenna, located in the municipality of Novate Mezzola (SO), in Lombardy. It is one of the few Italian alpine valleys still devoid of drivable roads, accessible only on foot or by helicopter. This characteristic has allowed it to preserve its natural environment and cultural heritage intact.​

🚶‍♂️ How to get there

• Starting point: Mezzolpiano, a hamlet of Novate Mezzola.
• Access: you take a cobbled mule track that, with a steep sequence of hairpin bends and steps carved into the rock, leads to the village of Avedée and continues to Codera. ​

🏘️ The villages of the valley

• Codera: the main inhabited center of the valley, reachable in about 2 hours and 30 minutes of walking from Mezzolpiano.
• San Giorgio: a hamlet that hosts a small museum dedicated to local culture.
• Other settlements: Avedée, Saline, Bresciadega, Coeder, Cii, Cola, all characterized by stone architecture and testimonies of traditional alpine life.​

🏔️ Trekking and trails

• Rifugio Brasca: located at 1,304 m a.s.l., it is reachable in about 4 hours of walking from Novate Mezzola.
• Bivacco Pedroni-Del Prà: situated at 2,600 m a.s.l., requires an additional climb of about 4 hours from Rifugio Brasca.
• Sentiero Roma: high trail that crosses Val Codera, connecting Rifugio Brasca to Rifugio Gianetti, passing through Passo del Barbacan.
• Tracciolino: panoramic trail carved into the rock, which connects Val Codera to Val dei Ratti, also passable by mountain bike. ​

🌄 Nature and landscapes

Val Codera is surrounded by majestic Alpine peaks, including Pizzo Badile, Pizzo Cengalo, and Monte Gruf. The valley is crossed by the Codera stream, which flows into Lake Mezzola. ​

🏡 Culture and traditions

The valley preserves a rich cultural heritage, with ethnographic museums in Codera and San Giorgio, and still vibrant agricultural traditions, such as the cultivation of potatoes, beans, and the production of mascarpìn, a typical goat cheese from the area. ​

📍 Practical information

• Starting point: Mezzolpiano, a hamlet of Novate Mezzola (SO).
• Access: on foot only, via mule track.
• Recommended period: from May to October.
• Difficulty: medium, with significant elevation gains.​