The Centro Sportivo in Chiavenna is situated just a short walk from the town centre, in via Picchi in the Pratogiano area, and has ample parking space. From November through to springtime it offers visitors the chance to ice-skate on a covered rink. The whole complex
was revamped just a few years ago. There is a hire service for good quality ice-skates built into the organisation. Apart from free skating, the Centre organises courses, evenings of entertainment on the ice and activities for the younger element. And for those who prefer swimming, the Centre hosts a four-lane 25 metre pool, plus a further pool for children and babies. Tennis enthusiasts are also catered for with two heated and covered courts
available.

It was in 1985 that Chiavenna proudly unveiled its swimming pool complex but in its infancy it was rare to find the number of visitors in a day would supercede 65. Twenty-five years later the complex on the Via Cerfoglia welcomes an average of more than 450. Since then il Circolo Pattinatori - the company who are responsible for the organisation - have led the way, establishing within the local community, a culture of sport and well-being that simply did not exist previously. “We’ve made great strides forward,” explained Silvano Molinetti, president of il Circolo, “as far as the pool is concerned we’ve reached capacity levels, and managed to create a precise ‘character’ to the complex; a place equipped so that people of all ages can enjoy a range of physical activities, alongside courses of a diverse nature and naturally the swimming itself. And today the pool fits in very nicely with other proposals for visitors to Chiavenna and represents a much-appreciated alternative for people staying
within and around the town in winter”. The competitive side of swimming was quickly developed and following this success the Centro Sportivo set out to create diversity within the complex; a diversity which seems to have attracted a genuinely heterogeneous collection of visitors. “And importantly we’ve managed this without losing sight of our origins - that of being a public service,” adds Molinetti, “for example, entry is free for all children until they begin primary school”. And similarly the ice-skating rink - an essential part of the complex - has developed along its own course, particularly since it was covered over. “The roof structure has allowed us to extend the iceskating season considerably, creating a strong ice-hockey element and with figure skating now offering training facilities on a par with other clubs,” commented Molinetti. But also the response to free skating has been extremely positive. “Obviously the roofing allows the facility to be used during periods of poor weather, so the sport develops and has become a big attraction for visitors and holidaymakers. Ice skating forms an integral part - an alternative - added value if you like - to other activities associated with our mountains. This aspect combines well with the high quality of the services on hand at our Centre, the safety measures we adopt and the on-going nature of the place - and look where we are - just a short walk from the very heart of the little town - with amp le parking too.” So, looking forward to the challenges of years to come? And priorities? “We have two clear objectives for the future: the first is to create a state-of-the-art fitness centre, equipped with Turkish bath, sauna and hydro-massage facility; the second is to transform the roof of the bar within the centre into a solarium, for visitors’ use during the summer. Happily, everything has already been agreed with the local authority. This is typical of our desire to maximise the potential of our centre and to appeal to those like our tourist visitors - who increase year in year out - and who have already made it clear just how much they appreciate what the complex has to offer”.