The Olgiasca Peninsula walk, in addition to giving us splendid views of the Alto Lario area, allows us to visit the historic complex of the Abbey of Piona, one of the most interesting and serene religious places on Lake Como. This scenic loop hike does not contain any major technical difficulties, conveniently starting and ending at the Piona railway station, where regional trains pass every hour connecting Lecco and Sondrio. We highly recommend starting with proper trekking shoes, a good supply of water, and on the hottest days of summer, don’t forget to pack your bathing suit, as the route passes near public beaches where it is possible to stop and take a refreshing swim. Leaving the station at 225 m (738 ft), we turn left toward the lakeside campsites, where a long, straight road leads us to the intersection with the SP72 main road, which we then follow carefully for a short distance.
Once we pass the bridge over the Rossello stream, we find the official trail signs for the Abbey of Piona (Trail 7), where the mule track climbs steeply into the woods before it levels out and follows the main road from above. We pass through a beautiful forest of chestnut and birch trees, while upstream massive erratic boulders loom above the trail, and toward the valley, we can enjoy magnificent views of the lake and the Piona bay. Leaving the woods near the historic Crottino restaurant, we cross the provincial road and begin to climb to the characteristic village of Olgiasca at 305 m (1,000 ft). We pass along the side of the church of San Carlo (St. Charles), ignoring the immediate road signs for the abbey to continue along Trail 7 toward Via Roccolo, and after passing a few local villas, we begin our journey along the high ridge of the Piona peninsula.
The trail winds gracefully amidst historic dry stone walls and breathtaking viewpoints, eventually joining near the Sass Negher cliff at 365 m (1,198 ft), a majestic rocky wall perfectly equipped for sport climbing. We proceed on Trail 7, gently descending toward the shore of the lake, and after passing a small votive cave, we skirt along some protective fencing up to the main entrance of the monastery. After a peaceful visit to the Cluniac Abbey of Piona at 220 m (722 ft), we resume our journey on the wide, cobbled road, and just past the Malagrida farmhouse, we find the signs to head back up to Olgiasca via Trail 7A. Paying close attention so as to follow the small roads through the village, we return to the church of San Carlo, where we retrace our original path for the final way back to the station.
The Civenna Overlook
A scenic loop from Vassena to the spectacular Civenna Belvedere. The trail winds past the historic Madonna del Sumpiazzo shrine, offering sweeping views of the hamlets dotting the Lecco branch.
The Cenghen Waterfall
An easy loop hike that leads from Abbadia Lariana 204 m (670 ft) to the Cenghen Waterfall 580 m (1,900 ft), the 'little jewel' of the Grigna massif.
The Wayfarer’s Trail (Sentiero del Viandante) travels halfway up the eastern part of Lake Como, with the journey beginning in Abbadia Lariana and ending in Morbegno, to make the hike easier, the route is divided into six stages.
The hike along the Strada Regia is not particularly difficult and is highly doable at any time of the year, though it is best to avoid the hottest days of summer and snow in the winter, in this guide, we have divided the route into three stages.
The trek along the ridge kicks off from Brunate and ends in Bellagio, though it can easily be traversed in the opposite direction without problems. The total distance is about 37 kilometers (23 miles), to roughly 8 to 10 hours of walking.
GPX tracks can be downloaded for personal use only, and they cannot be copied or distributed in any other form. GPX tracks, times and descriptions of the excursions should be considered only as indicative.
Responsibility for following the itineraries proposed on this website is entirely up to the user and is in no way whatsoever dependent on the author. The author assumes no responsibility for damage or accidents resulting from incorrect information or improper use of GPX tracks.
Piona Loop Trail
Agree the terms to download