Going to the Mountains Paths on the Lake

del Lario 15 Lake Como Going to the mountains Paths on the lake Municipality of Mandello del Lario CAI Grigne Mandello 1 Alpe d’Era ... emerging from a winding path among be considered a destination by itself. From the chestnut, oak and ash trees you find yourself hamlet of Somana, there is also the signpost unexpectedly in front of the Alpe d’Era church 15B [Sentiero del Fiume], which follows the [832 meters]... bed of the Era river. A suggestive itinerary but This nucleus of houses is located in a charming only for expert hikers: small waterfalls, pools, basin of the homonymous valley. Until a few “marmitte dei giganti”, fords [easy in normal decades ago, it was inhabited almost all year. conditions], rocky stretches [often equipped At the beginning of the last century, it with chains] offer a condensation of images experienced a golden age because climbers and truly special sensations. spent the night here before the ascent to the The concatenation with the Gardata or the Grignone summit. Currently the huts and the Zucco of Sileggio is a valid alternative for a more more or less modernized ruins [used mainly demanding excursion. From the Alpe di Era for the summer holiday - don’t miss the feast you can reach the Rifugi Bietti-Buzzi and Elisa. of August 15th] are about thirty. The highest point is near Cà di Angiolitt [991 meters]. Accesses The huts are connected by a capillary network • fromSomana, in 1.30 hours along of paths without signposts. The area is very signposts15[church] or 17[Cà di Angiolitt] rich in water sources and, close to them, you • from Somana, river path, in 1.45 hours can admire the milk toll booths. The climb to along the signpost15B[church] the alp [signpost 15 or 17 from the hamlet of • from Rongio, the Sirta path, in 2.00 hours Somana] is accessible to everybody and can along the signposts 18/18A [church] ➔ Next suggestion: Zucco of Sileggio 2 Zucco of Sileggio The Zucco of Sileggio [1,368 metres] is an and with the aid of two metal ladders, allows exceptional panoramic point on Lake Como you to get to the top by overcoming a rocky which also offers a wonderful view over the drop of 30 meters. town of Mandello, its water catchment area, The Zucco of Sileggio represents an interesting and on the main Italian-Swiss peaks that are starting point to travel the watershed crest of over 4,000 meters high. At the top there is the municipality of Mandello up to the Zucco a steel cross and a nice bell to ring on each of Manavello [2/3 days excursion]. ascension. Under the summit, instead, on the north side, there is a fixed bivouac [dedicated Accesses to Professor Mario Sforza], useful for hikers in •fromSomana, in 2.15 hours along the case of bad weather or for those who want a signposts17/17A[very direct route] temporary hospitalization. •fromSomana, in 2.30 hours along the The relatively low altitude, the numerous signposts17/17A [via Alpe d’Era, Cà di paths that lead to the summit from the Angiolitt and Bocchetta di Verdascia] hamlet of Somana, the possibility of escape •fromSomana, in 2.30 hours along the routes, as well as the marked and equipped signposts17/17B[via Santa Maria and Zucco paths, make this itinerary a suitable and safe of Tura] - the final stretch can be overcome excursion in almost every season for everyone with the help of two metal ladders [30 m] with a minimum of training. On the south- or by a comfortable path west side there is an itinerary equipped with a •fromSomana, in 2.30 hours along the ridge that, passing through the Zucco of Tura, signposts17C/17A[via Saioli] ➔ Next suggestion: Church of Santa Maria 3 Church of Santa Maria ...a stone path, modelled by thousands feet, reach two natural rock gyms: the cliffs Grotta initially accompanied by vines and olive trees, di Mandello and Strapiompo di Mandello. then shaded by thick trees that, at times, Continuing on the main road you come across show the mountains and the sun. And, every the Chapel of Santa Preda [Santa Brigida] hundred steps ,there is a modern and very and then another small detour leads to the simple cross. A via Crucis to show the way, famous Crotto dell’Eremita. to take a walk in the greenery, for those who Just beyond the church, following the signpost want, a journey of faith... 15C, you descend, on a very steep path, to an The church of Santa Maria rises 661 meters ancient “calchera”, recently brought to its on the edge of an ancient communication ancient splendour. From here, you can return route that connected Mandello to the comfortably to the signpost 15 or 17 near Valsassina. Its existence is documented the third cross. The climb to the church is from 1145 and in 1335 it was the Benedictine available to everyone and can be considered Hospice, with annexes spaces built in the a destination for half-day excursions. There Middle Ages too. From 1440 it depends on the are numerous occasions for prayers and Parish of Olcio. It has been restored in 1600, celebration during the year. At the church and it preserves a beautiful Romanesque bell there is a refreshment point. tower. Seriously damaged by a disastrous fire in 1997, Santa Maria was soon lovingly Accesses restored. Along the path that leads to the • from Somana, in 0.30 hours alongsignposts church, by small deviations, it is possible to 15 or 17 ➔ Next suggestion: Grotta dell’acqua bianca 4 Grotta dell’Acqua Bianca ... but the largest one is that of Mandello, The cave can be reached from the hamlet which is, at its base, a hole to the lake. It goes of Rongio along signposts 14 and 18 and under 200 steps and, in every season, it is represents an obligatory passage both for always windy... the direct ascents to the Rifugio Elisa, and for those towards the Gardata. The interior is Even Leonardo Da Vinci in the Atlantic Codex easily accessible for all its development. The mentions the charm of this natural cave, visit does not require particular speleological crossed for a short distance by a small stream. skills, but it’s good to be adequately equipped. Inside, it’s still possible to observe traces of the past activity of extraction of iron hydroxides. The absence of moraine pebbles shows that the current entrance would have opened The Grotta dell’Acqua Bianca [“White water very recently, certainly after the penultimate cave”, also known as Ferera or Grotta del glaciation. The presence of waterways in the rame, “Copper cave”] owes its name to the side tunnels and some large springs under source which is located at the entrance. It the cave, testify an underground circulation of certainly represents one of the main and the waters, currently unexplored, below the well-known karst phenomena of the Grigne. level of the fossil tunnels which collapsed and It is located at an altitude of 590 meters and created the Ferera. it is made up of a single very large area [175 meters for 35-40 meters], crossed by a stream Accesses that disperses in the fractures of the base. In a • from Rongio, in 0.30 hours along the remote corner there is a statue of the Virgin. signposts 14 or 18 ➔ Next suggestion: Zucco of Manavello 5 Zucco of Manavello The Baitello of Manavello is a small bivouac signpost]. The Zucco of Manavello is also the always open, located on the grassy peak of starting point of a beautiful climb that allows the Zucco of Manavello [1,112 meters] with a you to reach the Rifugio Rosalba along the beautiful panoramic view of the Grigne group Cresta of the Pertusio where you can admire and in particular of the Sasso Cavallo, Sasso numerous limestone monoliths that emerge dei Carbonari and Zucco of Chignoli. like mushrooms from the grass [path for On the other side, however, the view expert hikers]. Continuing along the ridge it embraces almost all Lake Lecco and the is possible to reach the Zucco of Sileggio [2/3 mountains of the Lario Triangle. days excursion] and complete a great ring on The bivouac is managed by the Amici del the Grigne. Manavello Group and someone in charge is usually present on holidays. Equipped with a table and a comfortable bench, it does not include beds. Accesses Reachable along many steep paths that start • from Rongio, in 1.30 hours along the from the hamlet of Rongio, the Zucco of signpost 13B [via valle of Portorella] Manavello is often considered a destination • from Rongio, in 1.30 hours along the in itself. Definitely accessible to everybody, it signopost 13B [via Rossana] still requires a minimum of training. Equally • from Rongio, in 1.30 hours along interesting can be the connection with the the very direct route that branches off Zucco of the Rocca [not equipped with a from signpost 13 ➔ Next suggestion: Rifugio Elisa 6 Rifugio Elisa Meria in front of the Sassi dei Carbonari and The Rifugio Elisa, owned by the Cai Grigne, in Sasso Cavallo [possibility of descending to Alpe the Mandello del Lario section, is a historic Cetra or climbing to the Rifugio Bietti-Buzzi]; or refuge for the inhabitants of this town and for the signpost 16A which climbs the road called mountain lovers in general. Located in the “dei Chignoli”, that represents the simplest upper Val Meria, at an altitude of 1,515 meters, and most immediate route to reach the Rifugio it was built and inaugurated in 1927.

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