Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: [email protected] Lake Maggiore The Italian Lakes - Maggiore and Orta https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/lake-maggiore/ page 1/10 Route Summary At a glance Lake Maggiore 7 night option (the full walk). Add extra nights on Isola Pescatori or at Orta to enjoy each lake to the full, or on the top of the mountain (Mottarone). This walk has some short walks that can easily be condensed so if you're looking for a more challenging walk, please see our shorter options. How much walking? Full days: 9½-18km per day, 3½-5¾ hrs walking Using shortening options: The Stresa (Carciano) funicular (closed 2021 until further notice) could be used to avoid the walk to Gignese or to Mottarone. No other feasible shortening options (other than to miss whole days) Max. Grade: This walk – On Foot’s first in the Italian Lakes – brings the glory of the Alps to walkers of modest abilities. The area was the first Italian stop on the Grand Tour, and the resorts around Lake Maggiore developed early in a style pleasing to the eye. The three Borromean islands, notable for their gardens, are worth an extra day exploring via the frequent public ferries linking them. Route Highlights ● The islands of Lake Maggiore – Pescatori, Bella and Madre ● Taking the ferry around Lake Maggiore ● The hike up to Mottarone ● Dining in a mountain-top hotel ● The chapels of Sacro Monte ● Orta San Giulio and the convent on the island ● A walk around Lake Orta We Recommend Extra nights at the start and finish to appreciate the lakes, and time in Orta to really explore the 20 chapels of Sacro Monte. Combine with a visit to Milan or explore Piedmont further. page 2/10 Grading Full days: 9½-18km per day, 3½-5¾ hrs walking Using shortening options: The Stresa (Carciano) funicular (closed 2021 until further notice) could be used to avoid the walk to Gignese or to Mottarone. No other feasible shortening options (other than to miss whole days) Mainly on signed paths and tracks, though with occasional quiet asphalt. Attention to written directions required. Highest point on route 1420m. Easy-medium: Average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 535m (100m - 790m) per day. Some short days. NB: The cable car from Carciano to Mottarone (via Gignese) is currently closed so either take a taxi or be prepared to walk. GPX file available for handheld GPS or smartphone App for complete route. Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops. “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See “Walk Grading” for more information. When to go The season starts as early as April (though there can still be snow on Mottarone). A good time to go to the Lakes is May/June - it can get a little hot and crowded in July and August, but mid-September to the middle of October is a colourful time to enjoy pleasant walking weather. Late October is also possible and as the walks are not long, the lessening daylight is not an issue. Note that for walkers who would like to dine at Villa Pizzini on Mottarone the restaurant is closed on Mondays from June to September, and Sundays/Mondays/Tuesdays the remainder of year. Please note: date ranges shown are for a 'normal' year. While Covid-19 restrictions remain, please contact us to discuss your plans and availability. Itinerary page 3/10 Day 1 - Arrive on Isola Pescatori Your journey to this magical island on Lake Maggiore may be by train or by taxi but it will always end with a ferry - a boat trip makes the start of a holiday such a joy. Settle into your comfortable hotel and have an explore of the narrow streets of "Fishermen's Island". Option It's always best to factor in an extra day here if you can so that you can indulge yourselves both with exploring the lake and walking our featured first walk (see below) Day 2 - Discovering Lake Maggiore If you have not booked an extra day here, you have two choices - we recommend using the ferry system to explore the Borromean Islands - Bella and Madre and their gardens in particular, the old town and resort of Stresa, and even the Monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso on the opposite shore of the lake. Walkers may prefer our featured walk from Mergozzo to Pallanza, with a pretty path along Lake Mergozzo (3¾hr, 14½km, CUSs 540m), but you can decide when you are there. Option In place of this walk, or as an extra day, consider spending some time with Beatrice, our local contact and guide. who can show you the very best of Lake Maggiore and its surrounds. Explore the Borromean Islands, their gardens and palaces, and the villages around the shore. Full or half day tours available, from €250 per group of up to 10 people per full day, or €150 per half day, plus travel and entrances. Pay locally. See details here or contact On Foot. Day 3 - Baveno to Gignese Following a short ferry transfer to Baveno, the walk swiftly climbs and gains lovely views of the Borromean islands dotted across Lake Maggiore. Leave behind the grand lakeside villas and hotels, and pass through hamlets and woodland offering you a view of the simpler side of life. Ensure you save enough time for a visit to the ‘Giardina Alpina’, botanical gardens showcasing many species of rare alpine plants and a chance to see what’s widely regarded as one of the most spectacular views of the lake. A mule track and some quiet roads lead you to sleepy Gignese for the night. (3¾hr, 11km, CUSs 740m). Alternatives: (Not currently possible). You can use the cable car (funivia) to take you from Carciano (Stresa’s smaller ferry dock, see map) to its middle station just before the Giardina Alpina. From there it’s an easy walk into Gignese. Day 4 - Gignese to Mottarone Today’s walk may not be very long but you’ll want to take your time as you leave Gignese to climb up through beech and chestnut woods to Mottarone, the highest point of the walk. Mottarone is known as the mountain of the lakes and you’ll see why as you ascend towards the top. From here you will have spectacular 360 degree views of six lakes, as well as the Alps (snow capped if you’re lucky) in the distance. (3½hr, 9½km, CUSs 790m) Settle into your hotel before heading off to the very highest point to watch the sunset and its rainbow of colours from there. Alternative: (Not currently possible). If you want to avoid the climb, retrace yesterday’s steps to the cable car’s middle station and let the cable car whisk you nearly to the top station. It’s just a short walk uphill to your accommodation from there. page 4/10 page 5/10 Day 5 - Mottarone to Armeno An easy day to allow you plenty of time for a lazy breakfast and then to enjoy the views (or even a trip on the chair lift to the top of the peak) from Mottarone before setting off to Armeno for your next night’s stay. The first part of the day retraces the end of yesterday’s walk but gives you the chance to look at the views from another perspective. Then it’s downhill all the way on relatively gentle paths which lead through birch woodland and pasture to Armeno and its Romanesque church. (3¼hrs, 10km, CUSs 100m) Day 6 - Armeno to Orta Today’s walk takes you from Armeno, at the foot of Mottarone, and over a more gentle countryside to finally reach Lake Orta, but not before visiting some charming villages along the way, including Pisogno, Ameno and Lortallo. Follow the Ways of the Cross to Monte Mesma, a place of absolute peace and later, having passed through the quirkily painted village of Legro, climb up to the World Heritage site of Sacro Monte di Orta, with 20 chapels housing life-size statues that tell the story of Saint Francis. From here it’s a short walk downhill to the main square in Orta, right on the edge of the lake and crammed with restaurants and bars. Be warned, it’s not a long walk but with so much to see, don’t fall into the trap of starting out too late. (4hr, 14km, CUSs 500m) Alternative: For those wishing to save time and to head straight to Orta, a direct route is available. (2¼hrs, 7km, CUSs 165m) Day 7 - Lake Orta circuit Today you will become especially well acquainted with mystical Lake Orta as you circumnavigate its shores and see it from many different viewpoints. Starting with a stroll along the promenade to loosen up your muscles, you then head uphill into the lovely old village of Corconio, with ancient Villa Bonala and some great lake views. A detour up to the medieval Buccione Tower comes next for some more views, before turning to explore the lake’s other face and reaching Lagna. You could take the ferry from here (but do check ferry times) or head onwards to Pella, via the town of Alzo, famous for its tap industry (!), for a more regular ferry service to Isola San Giulio and then back to Orta for the night. (5¾hr, 18km, CUSs 540m) Alternatives: You can shorten this walk by stopping at Lagna but plan your timings carefully as there are fewer ferries back and not lots to do in Lagna if you miss one.