The outing we are proposing covers one of the most striking parts of Valle Spluga. Sitting above the right hand slope at around 2000m the Pian dei Cavalli appears to the hiker as a vast green ridge, a slightly sloping high pasture land. It’s well documented that the region was inhabited as long as 10,000 years ago by nomadic tribes of hunters existing within the Alpine arc. Since 1986 Prof. Francesco Fedele of the University of Naples has carried out a series of investigations which have identified around 15 prehistoric sites. There have in fact been many discoveries over the years within the surrounding pastures, such as flint blades which date back fully 5000 years, and the remains of settlements of between 1500 and 1000 BC. Leave the car at the little village of Starleggia, and head off along the private paved road which takes you up to San Sisto at 1700m. This is a gentle introduction to the walk and the route takes you through larch woodland to the first of the mountain retreats.
From here the whole landscape opens up splendidly: on the opposite side of the Valle Spluga, Pizzo Groppera, Stella and Mater dominate impressively whilst right behind looms the imposing granite hulk of Pizzo Quadro. From the old quarry at San Sisto – now used for parking – the hiker has to cross the entire basin in order to reach this Alpine settlement and then follow the signposts towards

Alpe Zoccana (2000m). 
Now the climb gets a little more serious: the path zigzags steeply upwards with little respite. But the hiker is rewarded – on frequent pauses for breath – with some breathtaking panorama all around, in particular to the south of Valle Spluga.

Once you’ve reached Zoccana, the trail returns to its more gentle nature, and the Pian dei Cavalli is just a few minutes away. The name of the plateau owes itself to the many herdsmen – even today – who bring their magnificent breed of Haflinger horses to the grazing lands. The animals were once used for agricultural work and also as

pack horses. The view now takes in the entire valley stretching from the Spluga Pass all the way down to the Valchiavenna plains, a magnificent panorama irresistible to anyone who might have brought a camera with them.

And for the still emboldened hiker Lago Bianco (2300m) 
L’Alpe Zocana, sullo sfondo il Pizzo Prata. lies just a further hour and a half’s walk away.