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Diga del Gleno important information

Discover the upcoming Gleno Dam illumination dates!

During the winter season, due to ice and snow on the trails, the paths leading to the dam can be very dangerous, so we do not recommend hiking to the Gleno Dam. Please contact the tourist office before starting your excursion.

WARNING!

In the Municipality of Vilminore di Scalve, from April 1st to October 31st 2026, the parking areas indicated by signs are paid, including those at the trailheads to the Dam!

After the first two and a half hours of free parking (with a parking disc displayed), payment is required:
1. By purchasing Gratta & Sosta tickets at local businesses
2. Through the EasyPark app

For full details, see the page Parking in Vilminore di Scalve.

How to reach the Gleno Dam

On foot

Due to its relative ease, the most commonly used route to reach the ruins of the Gleno Dam is trail CAI 411, starting from the village of Pianezza.
It is possible to reach Pianezza by car and use the parking available near the church.
Alternatively, you can start on foot from the center of Vilminore di Scalve and reach Pianezza via the Sentiero delle Cappellette.
Additionally, during the summer season (May–September), a shuttle service connects the center of Vilminore di Scalve with the village.

There are also alternative routes that start from different locations but join the final section at trail CAI 410, which climbs the opposite side of the Gleno Valley.

1. From Pianezza
2. From Nona
3. From Roccolo
4. From Bueggio
5. From San Carlo

Before planning an excursion to the Dam from late autumn (October) to late spring (May–April), it is advisable to contact the ARS Office in advance by calling 0346.51605 or emailing info@valdiscalve.it

By bicycle

The trails to the Gleno Dam are not proper cycling paths, but it is possible to reach the ruins starting from Pianezza, carrying the bicycle over some sections.
For those looking for a two-wheel challenge: MTB Guides Valle di Scalve: @guidemtbvallediscalve

Gleno Shuttle Bus

For summer 2025, the shuttle bus from Vilminore (Piazza Giovanni XXIII) to Pianezza (the starting point of trail CAI 411) will operate:

• SATURDAY AND SUNDAY from May 31 to September 14 → NEWS: The service will also run on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21!
• DAILY from July 28 to August 31

The service runs from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a break from 12:30 to 13:15. Tickets are purchased directly on board. Dogs are allowed if muzzled.
The service may be suspended in case of severe weather.

Service costs

Residents of Valle di Scalve – €1.50 one-way, €2.00 round-trip
Non-residents – €3.00 one-way, €4.00 round-trip
Children born in 2019 and later, disabled people, and seniors over 75 – free

HISTORY

The Dam was built to fully harness the energy produced by water. The main proponents were the Viganò family, owners of major cotton mills. To maximize the gravitational force of water in the Gleno Valley, a multiple-arch dam was constructed, considered one of the most advanced engineering innovations of its time.

The reservoir, at an altitude of 1,500 meters, supplied a first power plant 400 meters downstream, which in turn powered a second plant. In the months before the collapse, water leaks at the base and in the lime masonry of the dam were repeatedly reported.

At 7:15 a.m. on December 1, 1923, the Gleno Dam collapsed: six million cubic meters of water flooded the valley below, first hitting the village of Bueggio, which was completely destroyed, then continuing to destroy much of the town of Dezzo. The water eventually reached Angolo Terme and Darfo, in Valle Camonica, and ended its course in Lake Iseo.
It is estimated that approximately 500 people lost their lives in the Gleno disaster.

Additional information

• An unmissable challenge for experienced hikers is to continue from the Dam to Rifugio Tagliaferri by reaching Passo del Belviso and following trail CAI 416, which is part of the Sentiero Italia in the Scalve area. This route is recommended only during the summer.
• Near the Dam, you can enjoy a snack or sandwich outdoors at the Chiosco del Gleno, open daily in summer. In Pianezza, there is also the Bar Tuf for a break before or after the hike. Coming from Nona, you can stop at L’Osteria della Nona, and in Pezzolo, at Bar Bis.
• In the town of Vilminore, there is a permanent exhibition space, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., where you can find photos and documents about the Gleno Dam disaster.
• The online portal Archivio Gleno allows you to consult historical photos and documents related to the Gleno Dam disaster.

www.archiviogleno.it