The Cittaslow network brings together towns that choose to enhance their cultural, landscape, gastronomic and social heritage by promoting a lifestyle based on quality, hospitality and respect for local traditions. Becoming part of this network means sharing a common path focused on sustainability, the protection of local excellence and the enhancement of local communities.

Within this framework, the Cittaslow Tourism Outdoor project was created to promote outdoor tourism. As a long-standing member of the international Cittaslow network, Chiavenna has taken on the role of coordinator of the Cittaslow Tourism Outdoor project, becoming a reference point for other member towns in the field of outdoor tourism. This recognition highlights the work carried out over the years to promote a way of travelling that respects the territory, local communities and the quality of the visitor experience.

The project aims to encourage a form of tourism capable of preserving the spirit of local communities while passing on knowledge of the area’s cultural, environmental and landscape heritage to future generations. Through the Cittaslow model, Valchiavenna promotes development based on respect for traditions, local food production and the identity of its places, placing the relationship between people and the environment at its core.

Within this context, outdoor tourism becomes a way of discovering the valley at a slower pace, following trails, mule tracks, cycle paths and historic routes that cross mountains, villages and alpine landscapes. Walking, cycling and enjoying the open air allow visitors to experience a territory that has preserved its authenticity while enhancing its natural and cultural resources.

One of Valchiavenna’s distinguishing features is its network of routes linking the valley with the neighbouring Swiss valleys and Lake Como, offering a wide variety of experiences for lovers of nature and sustainable mobility. Routes such as the Via Spluga and other alpine trails represent a valuable heritage that helps make the valley an internationally recognised destination for slow tourism.

The Cittaslow Tourism Outdoor project also provides an opportunity to promote local excellence through initiatives, events and activities involving institutions, tourism operators and local communities, supporting a sustainable development model based on quality of life and hospitality.

Discovering Valchiavenna Cittaslow Tourism Outdoor means experiencing a territory where nature, culture and traditions coexist in harmony, offering an authentic experience centred on slow tourism, environmental respect and the discovery of the Alps.

Located in Chiavenna, the sports centre features a modern athletics track used every day for training sessions, sporting activities and athletics events. The facility plays an important role within the local area, providing a dedicated space both for everyday sports practice and for athletes preparing across the different disciplines of track and field.

The track is used throughout the year by sprinters, middle-distance runners, long-distance runners and athletes from a wide range of athletics disciplines. Thanks to its facilities and the quality of the venue, it offers an ideal setting for technical training sessions and athletic preparation, complementing the sporting opportunities available in Valchiavenna.

One of the aspects that makes the Chiavenna Sports Centre particularly well known is its strategic location close to St. Moritz. Every year, numerous international athletes choose the track to train according to the “sleep high, train low” method, combining high-altitude accommodation in the Engadin with training sessions in Chiavenna. Over the years, the facility has welcomed world and Olympic champions from various countries, becoming a recognised destination for high-performance athletic preparation.

Alongside elite sport, the track also maintains a strong educational and community role, hosting daily training sessions, courses and activities for young people, adults and athletics enthusiasts. The facility therefore promotes sport and an active lifestyle while serving as a meeting place for both the local community and those wishing to train in a specialised athletics venue.

Today, the Chiavenna Sports Centre and Athletics Track is one of the most important sports facilities in Valchiavenna, combining sport, athletic preparation and an international outlook. A venue that enhances the local area while continuing to attract athletes, sports clubs and enthusiasts, reinforcing the valley’s reputation as a destination for sport and training.