Lake Como and Lake Maggiore are two of the most celebrated destinations in northern Italy, combining a mild year-round climate, dramatic mountain backdrops, historic villas, charming lakeside villages, and well-waymarked trails that lead well away from the tourist crowds. From easy lakeside strolls and ferry-assisted walks to terraced mountainside rambles and panoramic summits, the Italian Lakes offer a remarkably varied walking landscape for all abilities.

This Cicerone guidebook by expert author Gillian Price describes 28 graded day walks ranging from 3 to 20km (2 to 12 miles), completable in 1 to 5 hours, plus the full 5-stage Sentiero del Viandante trek along Lake Como's eastern shore. It pairs clear route descriptions with detailed planning information to help you explore Lakes Como and Maggiore with confidence, whether you have a long weekend or a full week to spare.

• The 28 day walks are split between Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como and graded 1 to 3, covering everything from the Stresa cable car to panoramic Mottarone and the Lake Como Greenway to the historic Strada Regia, with routes to suit all abilities
• The Sentiero del Viandante, or Wayfarer's Path, is described in 5 stages covering 54km (34 miles) along the eastern shore of Lake Como between Lecco and Colico, making it an ideal multi-day addition to any visit to the Italian Lakes
• Sketch maps are included for every walk alongside detailed information on accommodation, public transport, and wildlife, with practical guidance on combining ferry trips with walks across both lakes
• Highlights include high-altitude sanctuaries at Sacro Monte on Maggiore and San Martino on Como, the ancient pilgrim route through Val Cannobina, the car-less village of Monteviasco, and the Como funicular to Brunate
• The lakes' mild climate makes this a year-round walking destination, with lakeside walks accessible in winter, spring to autumn offering near-perfect conditions, and midsummer best for the higher routes to Mottarone and Monte San Primo

From lakeside paths and ancient pilgrim routes to panoramic peaks above Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, this second edition guidebook covers every aspect of walking in the Italian Lakes. Explore with Gillian Price as your guide.

Walking Lake Como and Maggiore – Quick Facts

Region: Italian Lakes, Lombardy, northern Italy 
Lakes covered: Lake Como (Lago di Como) and Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) 
Walk format: 28 graded day walks plus the 5-stage Sentiero del Viandante trek 
Day walk distances: 3 to 20km (2 to 12 miles) per walk 
Day walk duration: 1 to 5 hours per walk 
Sentiero del Viandante: 5 stages, 54km (34 miles), Lecco to Colico along Lake Como's eastern shore 
Difficulty grades: 1 to 3, from easy lakeside strolls to challenging mountain peaks 
Main centres: Como, Cadenabbia, Menaggio, Gravedona, Varenna, Bellagio, Stresa 
Terrain: Lakeside paths, terraced mountainsides, ancient pilgrim routes, high-altitude sanctuaries, village-to-village trails 
Key highlights: Mottarone, Monte San Primo, Sentiero del Viandante, Lake Como Greenway, Bellagio, Strada Regia, Val Cannobina, Sacro Monte, Monteviasco, Brunate funicular, ferry-assisted walks, historic villas and islands 
Best season: Year-round; spring to autumn for near-perfect conditions; midsummer best for mountain routes; winter suited to lakeside walks 
Getting there: Fly to Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, or Bergamo; good rail and ferry connections to both lakes 
Maps: Sketch maps included for every walk

Author Highlight

“Nowadays, Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como are well-known destinations for holidaymakers from the four corners of the globe, attracted by relaxing ferry cruises and romantic waterfront restaurants. Yet only steps beyond the popular lakesides, a wonderful world of old villages and  verdant alpine landscapes waits to be discovered. The 28 walks and short trek described in this guidebook wander around these beautiful lakes, making use of a vast network of age-old paved mule tracks through woodland and pasture once used to link remote hamlets and alpine valleys in the interests of trade, pilgrimage and travel.”

- Gillian Price, author of Walking Lake Como and Maggiore

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Plants and flowers

Wildlife

Getting there

Local transport

Information

When to go

Accommodation

Food and drink

What to take

Maps

Dos and don’ts

Emergencies

Using this guide

Lago Maggiore

Walk 1 Stresa to Belgirate

Walk 2 From the Mottarone to Baveno

Walk 3 Monte Orfano and Lago di Mergozzo

Walk 4 Cavandone on Monterosso

Walk 5 Ghiffa Sanctuary Loop

Walk 6 Villages above Cannero

Walk 7 The Cannero–Cannobio Traverse

Walk 8 Monte Carza

Walk 9 Val Cannobina

Walk 10 Cannobio–San Bartolomeo in Montibus Circuit

Walk 11 Monteviasco

Walk 12 Sasso del Ferro

Lago di Como

Walk 13 Moltrasio to Laglio

Walk 14 Pigra to Colonno

Walk 15 Colonno to Cadenabbia on the Greenway

Walk 16 San Martino Circuit

Walk 17 The Bocchetta di Nava Traverse

Walk 18 Crocetta

Walk 19 Val Sanagra

Walk 20 Rifugio Menaggio and Monte Grona

Walk 21 San Domenico and the Santuario di Breglia

Walk 22 Gravedona to Domaso

Walk 23 Domaso to Gera Lario

Walk 24 Around Bellagio

Walk 25 Belvedere del Monte Nuvolone

Walk 26 Monte San Primo

Walk 27 The Strada Regia from Pognana Lario to Torno

Walk 28 Brunate to Torno Path

Sentiero del Viandante Trek

Stage 1 Lecco to Abbadia Lariana

Stage 2 Abbadia Lariana to Lierna

Stage 3 Lierna to Varenna

Stage 4 Varenna to Dervio

Stage 5 Dervio to Colico

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Glossary of Italian–English terms

Seasons

the lakes have a mild climate suitable for year-round walking, although spring through to autumn means near-perfect conditions. Midsummer is best for mountain routes, while in winter when snow may cover the high peaks, stick to the lakeside walks

Centres

Como, Cadenabbia, Menaggio, Gravedona, Varenna, Bellagio on Lago di Como

Difficulty

walks range from easy lakeside strolls to rambles across terraced mountainsides and exciting paths to superbly panoramic peaks. Graded 1 to 3, catering for everyone

Must See

ferry trips combined with walks. Val Cannobina ancient pilgrim route. High altitude sanctuaries (Sacro Monte on Maggiore and San Martino on Como). Car-less Monteviasco. Charming historic villas and islands. Historic Strada Regia on Lake Como. Stresa cable-car to panoramic Mottarone mountain. Como funicular to Brunate. Lake Como Greenway lakeside stroll. Sentiero del Viandante along Lake Como's shores. Bellagio stroll

October 2023

Sentiero del Viandante

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