Gaudí has left an indelible mark on Barcelona. From the undulating balconies of Casa Batlló to the striking geometries of the famous Parc Güell, his visionary forms and colorful mosaics adorn the entire city. Barcelona, however, is hot and expensive in the summer, and not everyone can “escape” to Catalonia to lose themselves among its sinuous architecture.
If you can’t fly to the Iberian Peninsula this summer to be enchanted by Gaudí’s visionary works, there’s a Lombard alternative that seems to have come straight out of a Catalan fairy tale. Hidden among the mountains of Valtellina, this surprising structure combines imagination, art, and nature in a truly unexpected blend.
The Rock Garden of the “Italian Gaudí”
The so-called “Gaudí Rock Garden” in Grosio is a vertically oriented structure that climbs the rock face behind the home of Nicola Di Cesare, a former railway worker from Abruzzo who has lived in Valtellina for over fifty years. It all began in the 1970s, when Nicola decided to stabilize the vegetable garden and the steep slope behind his home at Via Rovaschiera 48: what started as a simple retaining wall project evolved into a creative endeavor spanning more than forty years, featuring dry-stone walls, arches, staircases, and terraces that today comprise approximately 207 steps , each carved by hand.
The materials used are everyday and recycled items: local stone, concrete, glass shards, ceramic pieces, car headlights, bottle caps, seashells, and construction debris transformed into polychromatic mosaics that cover walls, arches, and steps… evoking the vibrant Catalan works. The trail, consisting of narrow passages, ascents, and scenic viewpoints, is always open and can be visited for free, with no reservation required.
📍Where: Grosio (Sondrio), about a 3-hour drive from Milan
⚠️Please note: We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and no heels
Weekend Getaways from Milan—Here’s Where to Go
Looking for a quick getaway from Milan? Como and Lake Garda are certainly among the most popular destinations, but instead of taking the usual trip to the lake, you could go for a scenic walk or perhaps enjoy a romantic getaway to a summer candlelight concert under the stars at Terrazza 241. For those looking for a bit of relaxation—but also a place where the little ones can have fun—just 30 minutes from Milan lies Lombardy’s tallest inflatable water slide, nestled in an oasis of wellness.
