In the arms of Valbrona are the stars of the Great Bear, and there is a precise reason: the village is closed in by high mountains on every side, and that is the only constellation the inhabitants manage to see, because it stands high enough in the sky to clear the ridges. Beside the stars are a tower — there were at least four in the territory — and a griffin, standing for the invader forced to fall back before that defence.
The name comes from two Germanic words, val and bron, that is valley and spring: here they call it the valley of the springs, and the four hamlets — Candalino, Maisano, Osigo and Visino — lie among woods and streams. In the twentieth century mouflons brought from Sardinia were released above Monte Moregallo; they multiplied and repopulated these woods. The sanctuary of the Madonna della Febbre recalls the pestilence of the sixteenth century, when the Landsknechts of Charles V came down into the valley. The inhabitants were nicknamed panisciat, from paniscia, a soft polenta made with milk. Two thousand six hundred and fifty-six inhabitants.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
Near Valbrona
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
