Chiavenna is a historic town at the foot of the Alps. It has a nice old town with buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, and the surroundings are a great place for mountain hiking.
The city was founded by the Romans, and its development was not interrupted by the fall of the Empire. Due to its location, it has been a field of rivalry between various Italian states, Switzerland and France for centuries. The most characteristic building in the city is Balbiani Palace, erected on the main square. It belonged to the family that owned Chiavenna in the 15th century. The old town with the collegiate church of St. Lawrence and the 12th century monastery complex.
The big attraction of the city is the Paradise Botanical Archaeological Park located on the hill, which combines the features of an alpine garden and an archaeological site. You can see the ruins of a medieval castle here. For those who like longer trips, the numerous paths in the Marmitte dei Giganti Park, which includes the surrounding mountains, are waiting for you.
A characteristic feature of Chiavenna are rock caves, called crotti, which in the past were used for storing and maturing cold cuts, cheese and wine. Currently, many of them have been converted into restaurants, trattorias and shops with traditional food products.
