Vilminore di Scalve
Located at the sunny center of Val di Scalve, a starting point for mountain hikes and excursions to the Gleno Dam.
Vilminore di Scalve is located at the heart of Val di Scalve, at an altitude of 1,018 meters above sea level.
Despite being a small municipality, Vilminore has nine hamlets: Vilmaggiore, Adenasso, Bueggio, Nona, Teveno, Pianezza, Meto, Pezzolo, and Dezzolo Sant’Andrea. It has always been a key hub of the valley, being the seat of the historic Comunità Montana di Scalve.
Each part preserves important traces of the valley’s history, but none is more significant than the Gleno Dam, which preserves the signs of the tragic disaster that occurred on December 1, 1923. On that awful day, the dam collapsed, unleashing a massive amount of water, mud, and debris onto the villages below, causing numerous damages and hundreds of victimes. Today, the ruins of the Gleno Dam remain visible and can be reached via a scenic hike starting from Vilminore di Scalve.
Near the path, visitors will find the Gleno Alpine Arboretum, a 6,000-square-meter park featuring a diverse collection of trees and shrubs of the Val di Scalve. The site also includes an exhibition space that collects botanical samples, descriptive panels about local flora, and educational displays on the Gleno Dam. The area is suitable for school groups and families, offering picnic spots where visitors can relax and enjoy nature.
