Carducci goes to Madesimo for the first time and the place becomes instantly irresistible. It’s the summer of 1888. Bored and somewhat saddened by his day-to-day Bologna, he moves up to the Alps within Valle Spluga. Villa Adele is to becomes the ‘base camp’ for his explorations. Carducci would roam the high pastures leading up to Alpe Motta and Lago Azzurro. There’s a short circular outing where the autumn chill is lit up by the orange of larch woods highlighted by the snows of 3000m. We’ve chosen Madesimo as our starting off point. Take the asphalt road up toward Motta.

The track moves up steadily, inviting us now and then to take a few moments of quiet contemplation, just as one might imagine Carducci enjoying. The Carducci excursion is indicated on sign-posts pointing us into the woodland – and adorned with quotations from the great poet illustrating the close bond between him and the area around Madesimo. We halt at around 1730m. represented by Alpe Motta di Sotto. Up to now we have walked for around half an hour and climbed a little under 200m. The next stage features the golden statue of the Madonna

d’Europa already visible on the grassy hillock on our left. To reach Lago Azzurro, the most popular goal for followers in Carducci’s footsteps, simply take the path which leads down from the Madonna.

At this point you might choose to follow the loop until Alpe Groppera, skirting the lakeside and into woodland until you exit on a high pasture with a few baite . Our journey is almost over: simply come down by dirt track to the settlement of Pianello, thence along a paved path until you meet the via Emet for Macolini; head off to the right and you’re down in no time at all to Madesimo.