Visiting Italy's Lake District: Part VIIIb - Chiavenna

After our last glimpses of soaring alpine peaks

and tiny hamlets attached to steep hillsides,

we departed by bus for the border village of Chiavenna.  Chiavenna, the Roman Clavenna, is situated about 16 km north of Lake Como at an historically strategic point, located where it overlooks both the Splügen and Maloja passes between Italy and Switzerland. 

After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Clavenna/Chiavenna marked the northern limit of the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy.  Today it is reknowned for its historic center with restaurants, shops

and graceful villas.

There were occasional reminders of its medieval past

and the surrounding multicolored cliffs

formed a backdrop for the houses along the river flowing through it.