If anyone says that there’s never anything to do in Sondrio, they’ll have to think again this autumn.

I attended the launch of Vie del Gusto, scheduled for Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, and I have to say the programme is really packed.

But what I like most is the idea behind it: to bring Sondrio to life and help people discover a city we don’t normally get to see.

You’ll go from Piazza Garibaldi to Corso Italia, all the way to Via dei Palazzi—between local producers, artisan workshops, tastings, wineries, courtyards, guided tours, strolls and events that are very different from one another.

During the presentation, there was also an invitation to the owners of the historic properties on Via dei Palazzi to open up their courtyards to anyone who wants to discover them.

And, in my opinion, that’s one of the best things.

Because it means bringing in not just visitors, but also the people who actually live in the city—giving you the chance to peek into a courtyard we’ve probably walked past a hundred times, staring at a closed gate.

Sondrio comes off a very lively summer and is now gearing up for an autumn just as jam-packed with events, running all the way to the Valtellina Wine Trail.

And the Wine Trail is no longer only a race, either. Over the years it’s grown massively, and around the sporting event there’s now a programme that involves Sondrio even more—along with everyone who lives here, and the many people who come from outside.

Vie del Gusto is exactly part of that build-up.

And it starts with an important birthday too.

Formaggi in Piazza turns twenty

Formaggi in Piazza reaches its 20th edition.

The zero-kilometre markets will accompany the stroll from Piazza Garibaldi and Corso Italia to Via dei Palazzi, featuring dairy producers and their specialties.

Then you head down Via dei Palazzi with Sapori e saperi artigiani: eight artisan businesses will be the stars of the initiative, created in collaboration with Confartigianato Imprese Sondrio.

The shops will be open especially for the occasion, and along the street you’ll also find a tasting trail, the Foto sospese, and events dedicated to mushrooms and mycology.

There are also guided tours of the city—another chance to uncover stories, courtyards and corners of Sondrio that we may not know as well as we think.

Wine, cellars and Wine Estates

As we get closer to the Wine Trail, naturally, wine will play a starring role.

Guided tastings in the cellars of the historic centre are planned, and it will also be possible to visit the Wine Estates at Palazzo Martinengo.

On Saturday 31 October, at Palazzo Sertoli, the focus will instead be on wine tourism, with the conference Terre di vino, terre di valore. L'enoturismo in Valtellina tra scenari attuali e prospettive di crescita, organised in collaboration with the Associazione Nazionale Città del Vino.

The programme also includes the Valtellina Wine Walking, linked to the National Day of Urban Trekking.

Not just cheese and wine

There are also initiatives that showcase productions that may be less well known.

At MVSA, the experimental project of Albosaggia wheat will be presented—grown on land that has been reclaimed, with the aim of producing Albosaggia bread.

At Palazzo Pretorio, you’ll find a pomology exhibition dedicated as well to the Bernina apple.

With the Vie dell’olio, meanwhile, it’s all about discovering the olive trees cultivated on our terraced slopes, with walks and tastings.

And in the courtyard of the Custodian Angel, along Via dei Palazzi, there will also be space for mushrooms, with Mycology: man, mushrooms and the environment.

Saturday 31 October: it carries on into the evening

In the late afternoon, there’s a walk open to everyone through the streets of Sondrio.

Then you head back to Piazza Garibaldi, where—inside the marquee—we’ll be waiting for you with a pizzoccherata hosted by the Accademia del Pizzocchero di Teglio.

And in the evening the pace really changes with Voglio tornare negli anni '90®.

Sunday 1 November, with sport, food and families

Sunday is also the day of the Sondrio Wine Tower Run, the race up the steps of the Torre Ligariana.

In Piazza Garibaldi, there will also be the Mountain Food Experience between refuges in Valtellina, Cilento and Sicily, organised by the Consorzio Turistico Sondrio e Valmalenco and by APF Valtellina.

In the afternoon, there’s also time for workshops and entertainment for families.

Sondrio in autumn? More like “there’s never nothing”

I definitely want to go and see some of these initiatives.

In particular, what intrigues me is the chance to step into places that are usually kept closed, discover courtyards, cellars and workshops, and see Sondrio in a different light.

And I like another aspect too: the way so many different realities are involved, and the invitation to the citizens themselves to open up the courtyards of their historic homes.

Because a city really comes alive when it’s not just holding organised events inside it, but people take part and make it their own.

So to anyone who occasionally says “there’s never anything to do in Sondrio”, I’d suggest having a look at what’s in store for this autumn.

Then we’ll talk about it again. 😉

Vie del Gusto – Sondrio
📅 31 October and 1 November 2026

the detailed programme of the individual initiatives and booking methods, visit visitasondrio.it