Valsassina

Valsassina is a valley in the Alps of Lombardy, in northern Italy's province of Lecco, enclosed between the Grigna range to the west and the Bergamo Prealps stretching north to east, which separate it from the Bergamo and Valtellina valleys. It connects to the Lecco branch of Lake Como through two outlets, at Lecco and at Bellano, and is drained by the Pioverna stream, which unusually for an Alpine river flows from south to north, rising near the Bocchetta di Campione at about 1,800 meters and carving the dramatic Orrido di Bellano gorge where it reaches the lake. The valley's economy centers on dairy farming, especially the production of Taleggio cheese.