Nadia and Roy are from Capetown, South Africa and for some time now have spent several months of their year at Pianazzola.
And they’re not alone in this: people from countries far and wide have decided to make the little village their haven of peace, away from the stress and mayhem of city life. But Nadia and Roy’s story is a bit special. She has old Chiavenna family origins, and having spent her life in Capetown, has now returned to the place of her ancestors rediscovering this little village above Chiavenna. And once Roy sold his business, they began to return regularly with a view to renovating her old family home.

“I love being in Pianazzola” explains Roy, “the local people are so friendly but there’s also a small but diverse community of foreigners who are really involved in the preservation of life within the village. We have Belgian, Swiss and German friends, but also Italians from other parts of the country with second homes here.”
“Nadia and I travel around Europe quite a lot yet Pianazzola is always our base. Here we can relax, plan our future trips, we paint and read, appreciating a really pleasant climate with nature all around”. No surprise then to learn this is where the couple spent their honeymoon. The all-year-round population of the village is around a mere 50, but it’s easily reached on the road which winds up through the steep slopes of terraced vineyards. A stroll along the way up there in Autumn will confirm immediately the favourable nature of the micro-climate here. It’s a real sun-trap - at around 700m - and is surrounded by chestnut woods. Despite the lack of shops or business activities (or perhaps because of this) the place appeals hugely to tourists, and just how much of its original vivacity remains is most encouraging.

Any number of walking routes head off from this still authentic mountain village with its little church and typical rustic architecture.