Valtellina: Difference between revisions

{{for multi|the ''comune'' in Valmalenco valley|Chiesa in Valmalenco|the footballer|Marco Valtulina|Val'''p'''elline|Valpelline, Aosta Valley}}

[[File:Flag of ValtellinaValtelina and ValchiavennaValciavena.pngsvg|thumb|Flag of [[Valchiavenna]] (upper left), [[Bormio]]Upper Valtellina (upper right) and Valtellina (lower part)]]

'''Valtellina''' or the '''Valtelline''' (occasionally spelled as two words in English: '''Val Telline'''; {{lang-rm|Vuclina}} <small>({{Audio|Roh-putèr-Vuclina.ogg|listen|help=no}})</small>; {{lang-lmo|Valtelina}} or {{lang|lmo|Valtulina}}; {{lang-de|link=no|Veltlin}}; {{lang-it|Valtellina}}) is a valley in the [[Lombardy]] region of northern [[Italy]], bordering [[Switzerland]]. Today it is known for its [[ski centercentre]], [[hot spring]] spas, [[bresaola]], [[cheese]]scheeses (in particular [[Bitto]], named after the river Bitto) and [[wine]]swines. In past centuries it was a key [[Alps|alpineAlpine]] pass between northern Italy and [[Germany]]. andThe control of the Valtellina was much sought after, particularly during the [[Thirty Years' War]] as it was an important part of the [[Spanish Road]].

The most important [[comune]] of the valley is [[Sondrio]]; the others major centerscentres are [[Aprica]], [[Morbegno]], [[Tirano]], [[Bormio]] and [[Livigno]]. Although Livigno is on the northern side of the alpine [[water divide|watershed]], it is considered part of Valtellina as it falls within the [[province of Sondrio]].

The region was conquered in 16 BC by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]]. By the 5th century, it was [[Christianization|Christianized]] with around ten [[pieve]] (rural churches with a [[baptistery]]) under the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Como|Diocese of Como]]. The [[Lombards]] gained control over the area after 720, but about fifty years later [[Charlemagne]] gave the valley to [[Basilica of St Denis|Saint Denis Monastery]] near [[Paris]]. Later the valley returned to the Bishop of Como.<ref name=HDS_Val>{{HDS|7135|Valtellina}}</ref>

[[File:La-Repubblica-delleTre-Legh-es.svg|thumb|left|Map of the [[Three Leagues]] with the grey area of [[Valchiavenna]], [[Tre Pievi]], Valtellina and [[Bormio]] ruled by it from 1512- to 1797]]

During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the Valtellina belonged to the [[Three Leagues]] (the "Grey Leagues"), which was then a mutual-defensedefence region independent of Switzerland but is now the easternmost [[Cantons of Switzerland|Swiss Canton]] of [[Graubünden]]. Graubünden is an area in which [[German language|German]], [[Romansh language|Romansh]], [[Lombard language|Lombard]] and [[Italian language|Italian]] are all spoken, and hence during 16th -century rule by Graubünden, the region became known variously as ''Veltlin,'', ''Westtirol'' (West [[County of Tyrol|Tyrol]]), and the ''Welsche Vogteien'' ("Romanic Bailiwicks").

During the [[Thirty Years' War]], the Valtellina was a theatertheatre of intense military and diplomatic struggle among [[France]], the [[Habsburg]] powers and the local authorities which culminated in the Valtellina war of 1620-16261620–1626. Control over the routes through the Valtellina to the passes between Lombardy and the Danube watershed was at stake as it formed part of the so-called [[Spanish Road]]. The anti-Habsburg forces in the [[Three Leagues]] put together a court named 'clerical overseers' that between 1618 and 1620 handed down a number of convictions (often ''[[trial in absentia|in absentia]]'') against Catholics in the Leagues and Valtellina.<ref name=Religious>[http://www.gr.kath.ch/ressourcen/download/20080529163237.pdf Graubünden's religious history]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (PDF; 3.95&nbsp;MB) {{in lang|de}}</ref> TheThis included the arresting under false pretences and torturing to death of the (catholic) arch-priest [[Nicolò Rusca]] of [[Sondrio]]. This and similar harsh judgments of the anti-Habsburg [[Thusis]] court led to a conspiracy to drive the Protestants out of the valley. The leader of the conspiracy, Giacomo Robustelli of the Planta family, had ties to Madrid, Rome and Paris. On the evening of 18/19 July 1620, a force of Valtellina rebels supported by Austrian and Italian troops marched into [[Tirano]] and began killing Protestants. When they finished in Tirano, they marched to [[Teglio]], [[Sondrio]] and further down the valley killing every Protestant that they found. Between 500<ref name=History>[http://www.geschichte-schweiz.ch/reformation.html Swiss History] {{in lang|de}} accessed 16 January 2012</ref> and 600<ref name=HDS_Valtellina>{{HDS|24652|Valtellina murders}}</ref> people were killed on that night and in the following four days. The attack drove nearly all the Protestants out of the valley, prevented further Protestant incursions and took the Valtellina out of the [[Three Leagues]]. The killings in Valtellina were part of the conflicts in Graubünden known as the ''[[Bündner Wirren]]'' or Confusion of the Leagues.

In February 1623 [[France]], [[Savoy]], and [[Republic of Venice|Venice]] signed the [[Treaty of Paris (1623)|Treaty of Paris]] in which all three signatories agreed to re-establish the territory of Valtellina by attempting to remove Spanish forces stationed there.

In 1797 the growing power of the [[First French Republic]] created the [[Cisalpine republicRepublic]] in Northern Italy. On 10 October 1797, the French supported a revolt in the Valtellina against the [[Graubünden]] (''Grisons'' in French and English), and it joined the [[Cisalpine Republic]].

After the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815, the Valtellina became part of the [[Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia]], which was a constituent land of the Austrian Empire. In 1859 it came, together with Lombardy, to the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]], and finally in 1861 it became part of the [[Kingdom of Italy]].

At the end of the 19th century, there was substantial migration out of the Valtellina for reasons of the prevailing economically depressed conditions of the region and for young men to avoid [[conscription]].<ref name=Genoni>Paull, John (2014) [http://jorganics.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/1170.pdf "Ernesto Genoni: Australia’s pioneer of biodynamic agriculture"], Journal of Organics, 1(1):57-8157–81.</ref> [[Australia]], especially [[Western Australia]], was a popular destination for such migrants.<ref name=Genoni/>

Industrially, the area is famous as the home of the world's first mainline [[Railway electrification system|electrified railway]]. The electrification of the [[Ferrovia della Valtellina]] took place in 1902, using [[three-phase]] power at 3,600&nbsp;V, with a maximum speed of 70&nbsp;km/h. The system was designed by the brilliant Hungarian engineer [[Kálmán Kandó]] who was employed by the main contractors the [[Budapest]]-based [[Ganz]] company.

During the last months of [[World War II]], the Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] and other diehard [[fascist]] leaders of the [[Italian Social Republic]] (RSI) proposed making a "last stand" against the advancing Allied armies in the Valtellina. The Fascist Party secretary [[Alessandro Pavolini]] was the main proponent of the idea, which he first raised with Mussolini in September 1944.<ref>Ray Moseley, ''The Last Days of Mussolini'', 176</ref> HeHowever, pointedthe outfascist that the valleyleadership was ringeddivided withover fortificationsthe dating from [[World War I]],plan and hadonly itsminimal ownpreparatory electricitywork generatingwas capacitycarried (hydroelectric).out Into establish the lastarea monthsas ofa 1944stronghold. Mussolini'sBy governmentthe begantime movingthe munitionsAllies andmade foodtheir storesfinal toadvance thein area. By JanuaryApril 1945, however,the noValtellina firmwas decisionnot ready to makebe aused standas in the Valtellina had been taken. Thea [[Nazinational Germanyredoubt|Germansredoubt]],.<ref>{{cite representedbook|first1=Martin|last1=Clark|title=Mussolini|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EX3JAwAAQBAJ|publisher=Routledge|date=2014|isbn=978-1-317-89840-5|pages=319–320}}</ref><ref>{{cite bybook|first1=Ray|last1=Moseley|title=Mussolini: AmbassadorThe [[RudolfLast Rahn]],600 wereDays opposedof toIl the ideaDuce|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmxaWvOL_IgC|publisher=Taylor InTrade March,Publications|date= with2004 the|isbn=978-1-58979-095-7|page=168}}</ref> AlliesIn advancing into the [[Po River|Po]]any valleyevent, Mussolini's Cabinetcapture againon discussed27 theApril idea.by Thethe RSI'spartisans military commander, Marshalat [[RodolfoDongo, GrazianiLombardy|Dongo]], whobarely believedshort of the war was already lostValtellina, opposedended theany plan.possibility Thisof ensureda thatfascist nolast serious military preparations were madestand.<ref>Ray{{cite book|first1=Ray|last1=Moseley,|title=Mussolini: ''The Last 600 Days of Mussolini'',Il 203Duce|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmxaWvOL_IgC|publisher=Taylor Trade Publications|date= 2004 |isbn=978-1-58979-095-7|page=269}}</ref>

The local dialect used to be a mix of [[Romanshofficial language|Romansch]] andis [[Lombard language]]. These daysItalian, however, only Italian andbut the [[:it:Dialetto valtellinese|Valtellinese variety]] of the [[Lombard areLanguage]] is also spoken.

In Valtellina, wines are produced mainly from ''Chiavennasca'' (the local name of [[Nebbiolo]] [[grape variety]]) with other minor varieties such as [[Rossola nera]] permitted up to 20% for the ''[[Denominazione di origine controllata]]'' (DOC) and 10% for the ''[[Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita]]'' (DOCG). Grapes are limited to a [[harvest (wine)|harvest]] [[yield (wine)|yield]] of 12 [[tonne]]s/hatonnes per hectare. The finished wine must be [[aged (wine)|aged]] for at least 2two years prior to release (3three years if a ''[[Riserva]]'' bottling) with a minimum [[alcohol level]] of at least 11%. Yields for the DOCG wines are further restricted to a maximum of 8 tonnes/ha. While the agingageing requirements are the same as the DOC, the minimum alcohol level for the DOCG wine is 12%.<ref name="Saunders">P. Saunders ''Wine Label Language'' pg 143 Firefly Books 2004 {{ISBN|1-55297-720-X}}</ref>

The best-known villages for red wines are: [[Grumello (wine)|Grumello]], [[Sassella]], [[Inferno di Valtellina|Inferno]], [[Valgella]], and [[Maroggia]]. The village names are normally indicated on the label. Additionally, there is an [[Amarone]] style DOCG wine called [[Sforzato di Valtellina|Sforzato]] (Sfursat).

One of the most notable tourist attractions of the area is the [[Bernina railway|Bernina Line]] (“Trenino"Trenino Rosso”Rosso", little red train) of the [[Rhaetian Railway]], which links the town of [[Tirano]] in the Valtellina with [[St. Moritz]] in Graubünden, Switzerland via the [[Bernina Pass]]. The mountains of the Valtellina offer numerous possibilities for sportsports activities: skiing and winter sports in [[Bormio]], [[Aprica]] or [[Livigno]], hiking and biking in the same locations and especially in the secondary valleys, and rock climbing in the [[Val Masino]].