The natural park of the Marmitte dei Giganti is a vast green area that stretches along the left side of Val Bregaglia, between the municipalities of Piuro and Chiavenna. It proceeds rather like the unfolding of a historical novel, full of paths and trails along which extraordinary narratives develop which began in the distant geological past. An outing in such an area populated by birch trees, stone pines and firs is a stimulating retreat into past times. And what&´s more it&´s easy. Heading off from Chiavenna near the piazza Castello we climb rapidly. It&´s around 8 km in total with a height differential of about 450m. After the first sections of steps, taking in some examples of "land art" you chance upon the first of the potholes.

They are deep cavities dug into the rock by debris dragged by glaciers driven by waters produced by the melting of the frozen masses. The route throws up plenty panoramic points from which to appreciate the valley. Simply follow the signposting and you will reach the turning towards the "great throne". It&´s the only one, among the many, accessible to the public. A staircase of iron allows visitors to look out and over the quarry and imagine just how the people of Piuro extracted the blocks of natural green stone (pietra ollare) destined to become quality pots and pans for the kitchen. Fascinating stuff, but we now begin our descent towards Prosto noting the enormous monoliths produced by landslides detaching as the melting progressed. One in particular takes the eye as it differs in both colour and composition. It&´s an erratic boulder. This entire area was once covered by a blanket of around a mile of ice bounded only by the peaks of the mountains we see today. It&´s likely that the block broke away as the glacier passed and was subsequently carried slowly downstream.