VIA DEI MONTI LARIANI
This is a beautiful hiking trail which runs from Cernobbio, connecting towns scattered along the mountains of the western shore of Lake Como, reaching Sorico after a journey of 125 km.
Many of these places, included in a range varying from 600 to 1200 metres above sea level, were once pastures (called mûnt), hence the name of "Via dei Monti Lariani", understood as a road linking these ancient settlements. It is divided into 4 stages:
Path 1: Cernobbio - San Fedele - Length 28 km - time: about 9 hours
Path 2: San Fedele - Grandola ed Uniti - Length 26 km - time: about 9 hours
Trail 3: Grandola ed Uniti - Garzeno - Length 30 km - time: about 9 hours
Trail 4: Garzeno - Sorico - Length 46 km - time: about 15.30 hours
Here we describe the first and second paths, which stand on the territory of our map:
PATH 1 OF THE VIA DEI MONTI LARIANI
From Monte Bisbino (1325 m) to Monti della Valle Intelvi
The route starts from Cernobbio, Fraz. Rovenna, rises to the summit of Mt Bisbino, then takes the path behind the Sanctuary and continues through the pine forest to the Monti di Scarone, the Monti di Madrona, the Chapel of San Carlo, up to the Colma del Bugone (1111 m) - Refuge in a former Caserma della Finanza.
Going around the Poncion della Costa, you'll reach the Colma dei Murelli (1200 m) - Refuge - from where you can head off towards the Cima del Monte S. Bernardo (1349 m), - an ancient chapel of the same name - with a wide view of Lake Como. Then we reach Colma di Binate (1300 m), then the Casino dei Signori (a place famous for an event during the 1848 insurrection). You arrive at the Colma di Schignano in the town of Crocette, go around the Sasso di Gordona and arrive at the CAI Prabello refuge.
The mule track descends to the Piano delle Alpi, continues through the ancient farmhouses of Ermogna and Carolza and reaches the Capanna Bruno (CAI Refuge). With two possibilities: go down directly through the road to the Alpe Grande or, continuing along the mountains, you reach the Bocca di Orimento bordering Pizzo della Croce, where the path to Mt Generoso starts from.
From Orimento, go down to the Mt Cristè Refuge (CAI), then skirting the Alpe Grande plain (bolle) and passing through Meriggio to reach S.Fedele (Postiglione - Rimessa corriere).
PATH 2 OF THE VIA DEI MONTI LARIANI
Monti della Tremezzina
From S.Fedele you go up to the Belvedere location (view over the valley), to the Bocchetta della Zerla (leftovers of Roccolo), to the Cascina Bassetta (ruins) and you arrive at the Bocchetta di Colonno.
Descend to Passo del Boffalora, possible detour to Ossuccio or Ponna, go up to Pra Grassa where two routes, through Bocchetta di Nava, reach Croce (a hamlet of Menaggio): low= Piazza, Mt Brente; high= Alpe Ossuccio, Alpe di Lenno, Venini Refuge, Alpe di Tremezzo, Mt Crocione, Mt Brente. The itinerary partly retraces an ancient shepherds' route and allows you to visit the remains of fortifications and roads of the Cadorna Line.