Piona, Montecchio, Fuentes - Route 307 - Lake Como by Andreas Albrecht

The approach is the same as for route 302, on the hardly trafficked secondary road towards Dervio. The main traffic rushes through the road tunnel. For the return, we keep in mind the path running parallel on the slope called "Sentiero del Viandante." In Olgiasca, we then turn towards the peninsula. After the last houses, the path goes downhill on a cobblestone-paved road. It ends at the abbey. A small side path leads down to Lake Como, where there is a boat dock. You can visit the Cistercian abbey and be touched by the beauty and tranquility of the place. As a souvenir, a liqueur made by the monks themselves is recommended.The hiking trail back over the mountain or rather hill proved not to be suitable for mountain bikes during our exploration. So we return to Olgiasca on the same route as on the outward journey. In the village, we noticed a small path that runs over a few stairs to the road. Better than going back on the road, we thought, and rattled down the steps. When we came out onto the road, there was already the signpost to the mentioned "Sentiero del Viandante." This is a historic mule track dating back to Roman times. It runs along the eastern side of Lake Como along the slopes. Some sections can definitely be ridden with a mountain bike, as this one to Laghetto di Piona. It starts with a short pushing section, then we were able to ride most of the route with some lively ups and downs. Some rocky sections and short climbs were not exactly beneficial to the riding flow, but since this section is only about three kilometers long, it can be done. At the roundabout at Piona, we initially did not want to return directly along Lake Como. So we turned right on suspicion into an inconspicuous road and accidentally discovered the very hidden Osteria del Nibbio. It was lunch time, and a few cars of local craftsmen were parked around; otherwise, we would not have noticed it at all. This is always a good sign in Italy, especially when "Pranzo di lavoro" is mentioned – the lunch menu for the working population. For a bargain price, you get a pasta appetizer, a main course of your choice, dessert, water or table wine, and finally an espresso. The hostess also places three bottles – for digestion, as she says. These contain limoncello, grappa, and a licorice liqueur. You can serve yourself. That is quite tempting, and actually, a siesta would be in order afterwards. But Tomek and I held back as we wanted to return with the mountain bike. Now fresh and full of energy, we considered visiting the small hills along the path for the return. They lie quite inconspicuously next to the bike path on the Adda and are nevertheless a worthwhile destination for mountain bikers, especially from a historical perspective. On the first hill is Forte Montecchio, and on the second, Forte Fuentes. Both fortifications express the strategic importance that the northern part of Lake Como had for centuries.Forte Montecchio Nord is reached via a path that branches off directly at the Colico beach, where the kitesurfers have their meeting point. The fort is the only completely preserved and intact fortification in Italy from the First World War. It can be visited during the summer season. The path continues along the hill in a northerly direction. We found a nice trail that spat us out in Erbiola, where the short climb to Forte di Fuentes awaited us. This old fortress dates back to the time of Spanish rule when, around 1600, the Duchy of Milan was governed by the then governor, Count Fuentes. He had the eponymous fort built to protect against the invasion of the Swiss Three Leagues. Later, this region came under Austrian rule. During that time, the previously malaria-infested swamp area Piano di Spagna was drained and thus made usable for agriculture. From up here, we have a good view of this plain between Lake Como and Lago di Mezzola. Only some ruins remain of the old fortress. In between lies a large meadow, which was probably the parade ground in earlier times. According to the map, a path should lead down to the Adda, which flows into Lake Como here. To our delight, it turned out to be a nice little trail that directly joins the Sentiero Valtellina bike path. The kitesurfers were on the water. So the wind must have picked up in the afternoon. It blew us easily and gently back as a nice tailwind. In a variation of a well-known saying, one could say in conclusion: unplanned is half won.