Hiking in Cernobbio

Anyone who turns north just before Chiasso will not regret it. Hidden behind the densely built flank of Balerna and Morbio lies the Valle di Muggio.

Ridge hiking Border shuttling between Ticino and Lombardy on smuggler and military paths. Daffodils and wild peonies accompany in spring.

Monte Bisbino, for many centuries a transit area, was never the center of historically documented important events until the Italian military occupation, which took place in 1916 during the First World War. To fortify its summit, a road was built that partly overlapped the ancient mule tracks. At the top, fortifications were built over a length of two kilometers, creating a border line that rose up to the Sanctuary (1,325 m) and was part of the Cadorna Line.

route in the forest with a nice panoramic view over the city of Como

Almanno, Colma Crocetta, Monte Fontanella, Sasso Gordona, Alpe Prabello, Dosso d'Arla, Poncione di Cabbio, south circuit of Gordona, Colma di Binate. Monte di Binate, Monte San Leonardo, Colmegnone, Murelli refuge, Poncione della Costa, Bugone refuge, Monte Bisbino. Bugone refuge, Colma del Crinco, Murelli refuge, Sella del Mortirolo, Colma di Binate, Almanno.

Mount Bisbino is a classic hiking destination near Como. However, this variant requires strong legs, as it includes the ascent of the old border guard Ronda staircase, over 1800 steps for a steep six hundred meters of elevation.

With a sweeping view of Lake ComoMonte Bisbino marks the point where the Ticino mountains in the southeast gradually slope upward. This beautiful summit, high above Lake Como, lies in Italy and can even be reached by car from Como. From the Valle di Muggio, however, we can explore it on a quiet and varied hike that concludes with a scenic high-altitude hike out to Sagno.

Long-distance hikes above the Lario The "Monti Lariani" are not peaks on Lake Como, but rather the mountain huts that once played an important role in the nomadic life of farmers, long before the Milanesi, in need of relaxation, converted them into weekend cottages. In the past, peasant life moved throughout the year between the valley (paese), the mountain pastures (monti) and the high alpine pastures, an arduous nomadic existence within a farming area that stretched from the lakeshore to above the forest line. There were no roads at that time, but there were paths, artfully laid out and branching out in many places. The "Via dei Monti Lariani" follows them for around 120 km, from Cernobbio at the south-western end of the lake up to Sorico, marked continuously (but not always reliably!) in red-white-red: five to seven daily stages, 4.15 to a maximum of 8.30 hours long. You can work up quite a sweat as you constantly ascend and descend along the western bank of the Lario, even if the "Via" does not touch any peaks. In total, around 5000 meters of ascent and descent are covered. The effort is sweetened by fascinating views, insights into the life of the ancients, the incomparable architecture of the Monti and lots of colorful flowers to the left and right of the path. Of course, you can also do the tour in the opposite direction, from north to south. Partial ascents are also possible, as many paths lead down to the lakeshore. Overnight stays are in mountain huts and small hotels. It is best to take a cab for the ascent to Monte Bisbino. This shortens the first day's stage considerably, which is also advantageous in terms of the journey to Lake Como. The walking time from Cernobbio is 7 hours.

A high-altitude walk to get you in the mood Of course, you can hike the heights above Cernobbio, Moltrasio and Carate directly from the lakeshore, but a climb of at least 1000 meters is not everyone's cup of tea, especially not in summer. Despite the shady chestnut forests, the three-hour climb is a very sweaty affair. So: "get in" once at the top, on Monte Bisbino, this panoramic and border mountain, and enjoy the lake and mountain landscape on a less strenuous high-altitude hike.

Easy path that winds through the woods with charming wooden sculptures