Hikes in Torno

A panoramic route through the woods and ridges of the Larian Triangle

Torno (318 m) - M. Piatto (618 m) - Pietra Pendula (655 m) - Piazzaga (570 m)

From the station of Erba you walk up right to the peak of this hike, Monte Bolettone (1317m). From here it's a gradual descent to Brunate. From Brunate a strong descent under the 'funiculare' (which you can also take to go down to Como).

Como San Giovanni - Monte Bolletto (1235m)

Day hike from the Funicolare in Brunate to the Monte Boletto summit.

circular route from Brunate to Montepiatto, climb to Castel d'Ardona and return to Brunate.

Route from "Via Roma 6–10, 22034 Brunate" to "9.1182 East, 45.8591 North" via "Via Nidrino, 22034 Brunate", "22034 Brunate", "22020 Blevio", "22020 Blevio", "22020 Blevio", "22020 Blevio", "22020 Torno", "22020 Torno", "Via per Montepiatto, 22020 Torno", "Piazza Paolo Giovo 1–2, 22020 Torno"

2 day hike from Como (railway station San Giovanni) to Bellagio with a stay in Piano del Tivano. The paths are largely unpaved and usually signed. In general you follow route nr. 1. The highest point is Monte Ponciv (1453m), but a variant over Monte San Primo (1686m) is also possible. Option for a lunch spot on day 1 is Capanna Mara (Bocchetta di Lemma) and on day 2 Rifugio Martina near Parco Monte San Primo.

Route based on the tracks from 064 to 076 actually traveled by the Va' Sentiero team

Located on a wooded hill high above Como, Brunate was known as the “Balcony of the Alps” in the early 20th century. The upper class from Como and Milan discovered the town as a vacation destination and built their villas there. Even back then, visitors were captivated by the view of Lake Como, the Po Valley, and the glaciated four-thousand-meter peaks on the horizon. In 1894, the cogwheel railway was inaugurated—with a gradient of up to 55%, a technical masterpiece for its time.The hike leads through the wooded foothills of Monte Boletto to small mountain villages—which today are inhabited only on weekends—and to a geological feature. The triangle enclosed by both arms of the lake—the Triangolo Lariano region—is particularly rich in erratic boulders. These large boulders consist of granite, gneiss, or serpentine—rocks that do not occur naturally in the area. During the Ice Age, glaciers transported them from the Central Alps—for example, from the Val Masino on the southern side of the Bregaglia Mountains—all the way to the southern end of Lake Como.> The lower station of the cogwheel railway (daily 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Saturdays and in summer 6 a.m.–midnight, Tel. +39/0248036789, www.funicolarecomo.it) is located on the eastern lakefront promenade in Como. Parking in Como is difficult and expensive; you may want to use the Park & Ride lot (at an affordable rate) near the Tavernola boat landing on the west side of the lake and take one of the regularly scheduled boats or a bus to Como. The bus station and ferry terminal are near the valley station. In Brunate01, exit the mountain station of the cogwheel railway via the lower exit, walk down to Via Roma, and turn right. The first section of the trail follows the “Strada Regia,” a hiking trail that runs along an old trade route from Brunate to Bellagio. At the next two intersections, keep left and walk past beautiful gardens and villas to the sports field. At its northern end, a footpath begins that winds along the wooded slopes above the lake. Some steep sections are secured with wire rope railings. After a good half hour, leave the “Strada Regia” at a fork in the trail and continue straight ahead, following the sign for “Montepiatto.” The hiking trail crosses the forested mountain slopes of Monte Boletto at a high elevation; these slopes drop steeply down to the lake, leaving little room for settlements along the shore. You’ll cross two stream beds, pass a left fork leading to Sopravilla, and arrive at the Monti di Sorto02. There, a detour to the right leads up a fairly steep 20-minute climb to Pietra Noriola, a large boulder.To continue, pass a left turn-off at the Monti di Sorto and head toward the small settlement of Cazzanore, where the trail splits again. To the right, the path leads slightly uphill to an old paved road coming up from Torno. Turning right again, you’ll reach the small village of Montepiatto03 —nestled among wooded hills—in a few minutes. Signs for “Pietra Pendula” point the way through the village and northward up to the Church of S. Elisabetta. There, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the fjord-like inlet of Lake Como. North of the church, a trail leads to Pietra Pendula04 in just a few minutes. A large granite boulder sits atop another rock, forming a stone sculpture that resembles a mushroom.Back in Montepiatto03, keep left and follow the “Piazzaga” sign out of the village. You’ll pass the Trattoria Crotto, which serves regional specialties (opening hours at www.crottomontepiatto.it). At a fork, take the right path—a wide, paved trail—through two wooded stream valleys, then descend to the left toward Piazzaga05. There, head left downhill through the small village and follow an old staircase path down into the Valle di Stravalle, where the stream has carved out a narrow rocky gorge. Just before a bridge06 crosses the stream, a path branches off to the right at a chapel leading to the rock tombs (sign “Massi Avelli”). Shortly afterward, keep to the right again, pass the ruined stone houses of Negrenza, and you’ll come to the first boulder with a trough-like depression.After a bit of an up-and-down hike through the forest, passing another carved boulder, you reach the most impressive of the rock tombs, the Avello delle Piazze07. A wooden ladder leads up onto the roughly 3-meter-high rock. It is the only burial site with a stone headrest, ensuring that the deceased’s head was oriented toward the east.You then return to the bridge, cross it, and follow a wide paved path downhill toward Torno08, passing terraced fields and enjoying a beautiful view of Lake Como. Follow the stairways down through the village until you reach the “Strada Regia” again (sign). There, keep left, turn onto Via al Pozzo shortly afterward, and continue downhill through the old village center. At a signpost for the “Strada Regia” pointing toward Blevio and Molina, turn right and follow Via Tridi to Piazza Caronti, which has a parking lot, a bar, and a bus stop. The best way to return to Como is by taking one of the regularly scheduled boats. Via Plinio leads from the main street down to the small harbor.