Parco Archeologico Botanico del Paradiso

Above Chiavenna, two hills called Paradiso and Castellaccio rise from either side of the Caurga gorge, joined by a suspended walkway. Glaciers polished their rocks into potholes and channels; valley dwellers walled, paved and fortified them. Today the hills form a combined archaeological and botanical park.

Why it matters

The two hills condense the Valchiavenna’s natural and human history: the site lies within the Riserva Naturale delle Marmitte dei Giganti, one of the valley's most significant geological contexts, where glacial meltwater drilled the famous giants' kettles into living rock and left erosion channels and roches moutonnées across the slopes. Human history is layered directly on that geology — old walls, small fortresses and pavements of soapstone record how the community used the hills — and rare flowers and exotic plantings thread through the whole. The archaeological museum occupies the former Caurga building at the foot of the hills.

What to notice

The Paradiso hill preserves rounded glacial hollows known as marmitte dei giganti, meltwater channels and roche moutonnées. On the Castellaccio hill are stretches of ancient walls, fortified remains and pavements laid in pietra ollare, the soapstone also used in Chiavenna’s baptismal font and palaces. A suspended footbridge crosses the Caurga gorge between the hills. Rare flowers and exotic plantings contribute to the park’s botanical variety. Views open repeatedly over Chiavenna's roofs, the collegiate bell tower and the valley exits toward the passes.

Context and history

The park's institutional life began in 1955, when the hills entered the civic Museo della Valchiavenna as its naturalistic and open-air wing; the archaeological museum at their foot now completes the pairing of site and collection. The whole area falls within the Riserva Naturale delle Marmitte dei Giganti, giving the site a protected status alongside its museum role. The fortification remains reflect Chiavenna’s historical position on routes between Italy and the transalpine valleys.