The present urban settlement of Chiavenna must be traced back to the Middle Ages: "customs" in the post-Carolingian Italian Kingdom, the town is typified by a grand lay-out which made it an important trade junction and place of passage control. The important urban lay-out had then became the "contrade" (from the Latin contratae, that is district), streets along which buildings and enclosures are ranged, separated by a lot of squares embellished with the wounderful "pot-stone" (pietra ollàre) fountains.

And precisely, the old squares of Chiavenna are tangible proof of its origin, telling the town´s story. They always go on, keeping the important function of serving as meeting places in the town&´s public life. Walking along narrow streets in the town centre, you have the chance to observe how the buildings "open" to make room for the typical squares where there are noble pot-stone portals and at their centres, elegant fountains.

In summer, this place looks like an "elegant lounge" furnished with flowers and tables, inviting tourists to have a break there to taste the various gastronomic delights of the valley and have a good "aperitivo" or one of the amazing D.O.C.G. wine, produced over the centuries in Valchiavenna. Those with a sweet tooth can taste delicious handmade ice-cream in one of the many bars looking onto the squares.