The Valtellina Summer League returns for its annual showcase of high-level European basketball and volleyball, bringing professional squads across northern Italy for a packed schedule of training camps, joint practices, and preseason fixtures. According to event organizers UP Events, with backing from the Province of Sondrio, Regione Lombardia, and local municipalities, the multi-week sports festival bridges amateur participation with elite professional competition.
Operating since 2013, the summer series draws Serie A1 and Serie A2 clubs into the Alpine region for preparation blocks ahead of domestic league campaigns. The broader festival footprint encompasses youth and professional camps staged across Chiesa in Valmalenco, Aprica, and Livigno. Those summer camps run through mid-summer, featuring prominent volleyball instructors and professional players including Valentina Diouf, Jennifer Boldini, Giorgia Zannoni, Federica Stufi, Vittoria Piani, and coach Francois Salvagni, alongside men’s professionals Max Cioffi and Paolo Bonola.
Elite Basketball Schedule and Matchups
The basketball portion of the calendar anchors the late-summer and early-fall schedule, bringing top-flight clubs together for exhibition matches. Five prominent teams feature in the 2024 fixtures: Openjobmetis Pallacanestro Varese from Serie A1, Acqua San Bernardo Pallacanestro Cantù from Serie A2, Germani Brescia and Vanoli Cremona from Serie A1, and Swiss top-tier side Sam Massagno Lugano.
Livigno and Sondrio serve as the primary venues for the men’s Serie A matches. The September schedule features a four-team tournament format across three days in Livigno, followed by standalone fixtures:
- September 5, 18.00 local time: Aquila Trento vs. Openjobmetis Pallacanestro Varese at Pala Teola, Livigno.
- September 6, 18.00 local time: Pallacanestro Cantù vs. Vanoli Cremona at Pala Teola, Livigno.
- September 7, 18.00 local time: Aquila Trento vs. Pallacanestro Cantù at Pala Teola, Livigno.
- September 8, 18.00 local time: Openjobmetis Pallacanestro Varese vs. Vanoli Cremona at PalaScieghi-Pini, Sondrio.
Fans seeking ticketing information and complete event schedules can access details directly through the official Valtellina Summer League platform.
Volleyball Showcase and Trofeo Città di Sondrio
Following the men’s basketball tournament, the Valtellina schedule shifts toward women’s volleyball from September 11 to September 15. The showcase brings together four Serie A1 clubs and four Serie A2 teams across venues in Chiavenna, Chiesa in Valmalenco, Sondrio, and Aprica.
The confirmed volleyball roster features Volley Milano (Serie A1), Uyba Busto Arsizio (Serie A1), Volley Bergamo 1991 (Serie A1), and French top-tier participants Mulhouse (Serie A1 France), alongside Serie A2 contenders Futura Volley, Albese, Pico Lecco, and Millenium Brescia.
Joint training sessions are scheduled for September 12 across Chiavenna, Chiesa in Valmalenco, and Aprica. Two friendly matches between Serie A2 squads take place on September 13 in Sondrio and Chiavenna. The volleyball calendar culminates with the “Trofeo Città di Sondrio” from September 14 to September 15 at Sondrio, showcasing the four participating Serie A1 sides in competitive tournament play.
What Lies Ahead
With preseason preparations accelerating across the Italian basketball and volleyball landscapes, these Alpine fixtures provide coaches a testing ground for roster integrations and tactical adjustments. Teams transition from Valtellina training blocks into their respective league competitions.
