“ Politically the whole valley belongs to the kingdom of Italy, except the side valley of Poschiavo (Puschlav) , which belongs to the Swiss canton of the Grisons (Graubünden) . The chief town is Sondrio (7172) , other important places being Tirano (5870) , Chiavenna (4592) and Morbegno (3603) . Near Bormio (Ger. Worms) there are some frequented mineral springs (sulphur and lime) , known in Pliny's time, and efficacious in diseases of the skin. ”

“ The population is wholly Italian-speaking and Roman Catholic, the valley being in the diocese of Como. The shrine of the Madonna of Tirano (founded 1520) annually attracts a large numberof pilgrims. The valley, particularly in its lower portion, is extremely fertile ”

“ The chief articles exported are wine and honey. The wine is largely consumed in north Italy and Switzerland, the best varieties being Grumello, Sassella and Montagna. Large quantities of honey are annually sent abroad.
History.—The political history of Valtellina is made up of the histories of three districts— (1) the “ free community ” of Poschiavo (first mentioned as such in 1200–1201) ; (2) the county of Bormio (first mentioned as a county in 1347) ; and (3) Valtellina proper, extending from the defile of the Serra di Morignone on the east to the Lake of Como on the west. ”