The VViandanteiandante PPathath Il SentierSentieroo del VViandanteiandante

Texts and photographies by Angelo Colombo Translation by Jennifer Pirelli An interesting excursion itinerary that passes through our zone is that of “Sentiero del Viandante”, the ancient way of connection between and , recently recovered, that was once indicated as “Via Ducale” or “Via Regia” and in nearer times also as “ Strada dei viandanti” (“road of the wayfarers”) or “Napoleo- na”. The old way had been neglected when the austrian government decided to open a new military road for the Stelvio, founding it on the intersections of and Lecco, completed in 1832 following the pathway of the present provincial road 72. The path, that passes through the territory of , starts from Abbadia and arrives at Colico, following in the middle side of the mountain the eastern shore of the Lario and it is indicated with road signs. The itineraries proposed that have Dervio as the point of start, offer in the space of a few hours, the best of the landscape characteristics of this territory, with fascinating views, geological singulari- ties, historical and spiritual stories, rural buildings, vineyards and terracings, but also arboreal species and wild fauna; to taste moments of diversion, absorbed in an atmosphere that connects the lake with the sky.

Panorama of the path from Dorio to Dervio

2 The Viandante Path Il Sentiero del Viandante Dervio - - Lenght: 4,5 Km Duration: 1.5-2 Hours

The itinerary starts from the railway station (FS) of Dervio (see the map on page 14, turning into the stairs and going on straight, you will find on the left the Cavour square with the De Magni XIV century palace, that had been the house of the bishop Mgr Francesco Magni, dead martyr in China. At the crossing you get the road on the right along the via Diaz and you walk across it until you reach, at the point of the Varrone river, the pathway of the “Sentiero del Viandante”. Here you can admire the church of St.Quirico and Giu- litta with the nice Romanesque bell

Map to 40.000 by Raffaella Mastalli 3 Church of San Quirico e Giulitta Panorama of Dervio from Ronchi

tower (XI-XII century). The itinerary goes on along a road suitable for vehicles, via Duca d’Aosta, to reach the locality Balma, where you find a public wash house, fed by the overlooking Sedeia valley. This is the starting point of the equipped climbing cliff, that uses the rocks of the massive promontory that dominates Dervio. Proceeding along the road, you arrive at the “Crotto del Cech”, from where before the underpass of the railway, starts the nice mule track paved with cobblestones that goes up towards the cottages of the “Chignolo”. Here you can already admire the view of the new touristic port, the sailing centers and of the peninsula of Dervio. When you have crossed the valley of the “Chignolo”, you go up toward the “Ronchi”, a group of cottages placed on the descendants of the “Muggio” mountain, meeting along the mule track: carvings, cupels and steps dug in the rock signed by the age- old crossing of the sleds. At the junction with the road to the “Ronchi”, you go to the right in the direction south along the pathway, where beautiful panoramic The path excavated in the rock 4 The Viandante Path Il Sentiero del Viandante views of Bellano and Dervio open, with the lake often streaked by sailing boats. Crossed, on the wooden bridge, the “Val Granda” you enter the territory of Bellano, meeting a little after the locality of Verginate with restructured cottages and a little chapel of baroque style. Proceeding between the terracings with traces of the vine and olive trees cultivations, you overtake a val- ley from which starts the asphalted road