Imagine a double leap of water rushing down 170 meters, creating clouds of spray that envelop visitors and a landscape that looks like something out of a Renaissance painting. This spectacle, admired even by Leonardo da Vinci and mentioned in his Atlantic Codex, is located in Lombardy, in Borgonuovo, in the heart of Valchiavenna: we are talking about the Acquafraggia Waterfalls, in Piuro (SO).
A double drop that springs from the glaciers
These waterfalls are special because they are not limited to a single fall: the Acqua Fraggia stream, which originates from Pizzo di Lago at 3,050 meters, falls several times along its course. The most famous-and visible even from the road-are the last ones, with an impressive double drop that provides spectacular scenery in every season. Their origin dates back to the glacial era: the U-shaped valley, typical of glacial excavation, created the “hanging chutes” from which the water plunges into the void, forming a unique landscape in the entire Bergell Valley.
Microclimate and extremely rare plants
The power of the water does not just enchant the eye: the continuous misting has created a special, almost subtropical microclimate that allows the growth of plants unusual for the Alps. Prominent among them is Pteris cretica, a fern that finds its northernmost station in Europe here. There is no shortage of other botanical rarities, such as Oplismennus undulatifolia,arboreal heather and carpets of Allium ursinum that scent the surrounding chestnut groves.
Leonardo da Vinci and his wonder
It is no coincidence that Leonardo, during his travels between Milan and the Grisons, stopped in front of this natural spectacle. He described these Lombard cascades in the Codex Atlanticus as “falls of water of 400 fathoms that make a beautiful sight.” An observation that confirms that already in the Renaissance, waterfalls were considered an extraordinary phenomenon, worthy of being handed down to posterity.
Unmissable trails, villages and views
Visiting the Acquafraggia Falls is not just about admiring the rushing water. From here starts the famous mule track with more than 2,000 steps that leads to the hamlet of Savogno, inhabited until the 1960s and now a small jewel of rustic Alpine architecture. A little higher up is Dasile, with its 17th-century panoramic church. Along the way there are chestnut forests, terraces, stone huts and glimpses that tell of mountain life in the past.
What to do at Acquafraggia Falls.
- Walk the beautiful scenic trails: an equipped path allows you to get close to the waterfall and even feel “inside” the water, thanks to a terrace a few meters from the thunderous jet.
- Bathing in summer: natural pools form at the base of the falls, perfect for cooling off in the hot months.
- Special events: every year in July, the “Pink Night at the Falls” is organized, with scenic illuminations, concerts and tastings of local products.
Useful info for visiting the Acquafraggia Falls (2025).
The falls can be visited year-round, but in the summer months there is an entrance fee that helps with the maintenance of the green area:
- June 1 to July 31: entrance fee on holidays and pre-holidays.
- August 1 to August 31: daily admission fee.
- September 1 to September 15: on holidays and pre-holidays only.
Visiting hours: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm.
Price: ticket costs 3 euros, but is free for residents of Valchiavenna, people over 75, children under 5 and people with disabilities.
Where: Acquafraggia Waterfalls.