The name “Costiera” probably derives from the peculiar conformation of this mountainous area which rises steeply from the plain. The origin of the term “Cech”, on the contrary, remains a matter of debate, but it seems that during the early Middle Ages, this region of Valtellina was inhabited by a population of Germanic origin known as the “Cèch” or Franchi. There is, however, another interpretation of this name: the Costiera dei Cech could have been one of the places in Valtellina where paganism resisted for a longer period, and the local communities embraced the Christian faith much later than in other areas. This may have given rise to the term “Cech”, meaning those who were “blind” or unaware of Christianity for a longer period of time.