Tovo Di Sant’agata – Bellaguarda Castle, Madonnina and Mortirolo

In Tovo di Sant’Agata, historic buildings and religious traditions meet cycling on the Mortirolo. Notable highlights include Bellaguarda Castle, the Madonnina complex and a climb with precisely specified figures.

Bellaguarda Castle: Route and history

Bellaguarda Castle is located above Tovo di Sant’Agata. You can reach it on foot via a paved path through the wooded surroundings; it is also accessible via the Sentiero dei Castelli. When it comes to its history, it is worth distinguishing between the tower and the castle: the tower is mentioned in documents as early as 1226, while the castle, built later, is documented from 1340 onward. The two dates therefore refer to different parts and stages of the complex.

Madonnina and its religious tradition

Above Prestino, the Madonnina complex comprises several buildings: a service building, the Oratory of Saints Hippolytus and Cassian, which existed before 1500, together with its bell tower, and a church built later. Construction of the church began in 1893 and was completed about 20 years later. It is dedicated to the Madonna di Caravaggio and is also known as Madonnina. The complex contains frescoes painted by Cipriano Valorsa in 1560.

The place is also associated with an annual tradition: on April 25, the parishioners of the former parish of Mazzo visit the complex to pray for a good sowing and harvest.

Churches and frescoes in Tovo di Sant’Agata

The parish church of Tovo di Sant’Agata also offers specific art-historical details. Its façade is designed in the Baroque style and features four pilasters, a central cornice and a triangular pediment. Inside is a painting by Fermo Stella da Caravaggio depicting the Virgin Mary crowned by angels.

The frescoes at Pian di Scala offer a different subject. They date from the 15th century and are located in a wooded area on overhanging rocks. Their setting and date of creation thus differ considerably from those of the frescoes at Madonnina. Anyone interested in religious and artistic heritage will find a range of architectural and pictorial contexts here, rather than just a single church as a point of reference.

Mortirolo and routes through the surrounding area

The climb from Tovo di Sant’Agata to Mortirolo is 12.5 kilometres long, gains more than 1,300 metres in elevation and reaches a maximum gradient of 23 per cent. The road from Tovo to Mortirolo hosted the Giro d’Italia in 2012.

The third stage of the Cammino Mariano delle Alpi offers another route. It reaches the higher-lying houses of Tovo di Sant’Agata and then leads through woods and chestnut groves to the church of Madonna di Caravaggio, also known as Madonnina.

Practical directions and local highlights

A mountain road that is partly unpaved leads from Tovo di Sant’Agata to the mountains on the Orobie slope. It connects the village with the road to Mortirolo and the road to Trivigno. If you include this route in your plans, bear in mind that part of the road surface is unpaved.

Casa Canali is a listed former private residence owned by the municipality of Tovo di Sant’Agata. It has been restored and converted into a public multipurpose space. For information about opening hours, contact the municipal office before your arrival. Tovo di Sant’Agata is also known for producing high-quality Valtellina apples.

Discover more destinations: Tresivio, Dubino, Borgonuovo, Trepalle, Corna, Oga, Campo, Morbegno

For the overview of the wider area: Sondrio.