There is a spot in Lombardy where, while Milan swelters between the Navigli canals and the asphalt that radiates heat until evening, the air remains cool even at the height of August. It’s called Val Vertova, a canyon carved by a stream into the rock, and for the summer season, it has given the green light again after the long closure following the landslide of 2023.
The new feature this year is the price printed on the admission ticket: €5. That’s one euro more than last year, reduced to €2.50 for children aged 8 to 17, and free for children under 8 and for people with disabilities and their companions. This isn’t a whim: it helps keep the trails clean and, above all, ensures that the visitor limit is respected.
Why only 1,400 people can enter Val Vertova (and why that’s a good thing)
Here’s the crux of the matter: from May to October, a maximum of 1,400 people are allowed per day; online reservations are mandatory, and you must save a QR code on your phone. Once the limit is reached, the site closes. On May 1, the first day tickets went on sale, it was nearly sold out with almost 1,400 visitors in just a few hours.
Just one practical tip, because trips here can be ruined by a small detail: in the event of a yellow or orange weather alert, access is prohibited for safety reasons, and there’s a traffic light at the entrance: if it’s red, you can’t go in. Book online a few days in advance, check the weather the night before, and leave early: it’s one of the most popular summer destinations near Milan, and weekend spots go fast.
While you’re there: how to turn the day into a mini tour of the Serio
Val Vertova alone is worth the trip, but there’s more to explore in the area, all just a few minutes away. Heading down toward the Serio River, between Casnigo and Ponte Nossa, lies Coston Beach: white pebbles, green and icy water, a river “beach” that has become a local legend thanks to Bepi, the singer-songwriter who dedicated a song to it in the early 2000s. It’s the classic beautiful spot in Lombardy that the people of Bergamo pass down by word of mouth.
Just a stone’s throw away, near Ponte Nossa, there’s also the “duck”: a rock in the Serio River with an unmistakable shape, which anyone who grew up in the valley recognizes instantly from the car window while heading toward Clusone.
Photos, a couple of dips, and a sandwich on the boulders: a perfect mini-water adventure for anyone looking for a place to go this summer near Milan without necessarily heading to the usual lake.
Want to extend your visit? From Vertova, you can be in Bergamo Alta in half an hour for an evening aperitif, ending the day within the Venetian walls instead of on the ring road.
How do you get to Val Vertova from Milan?
🚗 By car (the most convenient option): about an hour. Take the A4 toward Venice, exit at Seriate, then take the SS671 Val Seriana toward Clusone until you reach Vertova.
🚆 By train + 🚌 bus: there is no direct connection. From Milan (Centrale or Lambrate), take the train to Bergamo (about 50 minutes with Trenord), then from the bus terminal next to the station, board a Val Seriana bus heading toward Clusone and get off at Vertova, at the “Via Stazione” stop ( about 45 minutes). From there, it’s about a 3.5 km walk to the trailhead.
🚌 With the summer shuttle (starting in June): to shorten the walk, there is a shuttle service that, on operating days (check the website), connects the parking lots to the valley entrance starting at €2.50. It can only be purchased online along with the admission ticket, so it must be added to your cart at the time of booking: it is not available for purchase on-site.
🚲 Finally, for cyclists, pedestrian access also applies to bikes: not a bad idea for those who want to combine a stretch of the Serio bike path with their trip.
