Torno to Pietra Pendula

Torno to Piazzaga and Montepiatto: Easy Loop Hike

The Trovanti Boulders and Mysterious Longobard Tombs

An easy loop excursion from Torno reaches the mountain hamlets of Piazzaga and Montepiatto, leading hikers to the discovery of Trovanti boulders, ancient rock-cut tombs, and the famous Pietra Pendula. These erratic boulders, locally called Trovanti, are native granite rocks originating from Val Masino and transported to these areas by glaciers during the Quaternary Ice Age. The mysterious Massi Avelli are historic tombs excavated directly into granite, believed to have been carved by the Longobards between the 5th and 6th centuries, while the Pietra Pendula is an enormous granite boulder resting on a narrow limestone base, creating a unique mushroom shape. This straightforward excursion begins and ends at the Torno harbor, which is easily reachable via the public boat services of the lake navigation authority or by the ASF C130 bus line. Before setting off, we highly recommend visiting the church of Santa Tecla (St. Thecla), located right by the waterfront, which houses splendid 15th-century frescoes by Bartolomeo de Benzi.

From Torno Harbor to the Historic Travaina Gate

From the harbor, we climb the stone staircase toward the historic center of Torno, cross the provincial road, and follow Via Tridi along a short stretch of the Strada Regia, turning right at the next junction onto the mule track toward Piazzaga. The path climbs into the woods, alternating between comfortable flat stretches and stone steps, while amazing views of Lake Como open up behind us. After walking alongside the ancient stone walls of Campione, we reach the historical Porta di Travaina, a medieval gate dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Upon arriving at the Travaina bridge, we turn left onto the specific Path of the Massi Avelli, where we encounter in historical order: the Avello di Cascina Negrenza, the Avello di Negrenza, and the Avello delle Piazze.

The Pietra Pendula Mushroom Rock and Santa Elisabetta Views

We head back to the main trail, paying close attention to the trail markers, and climb a beautiful stone stairway to arrive in Piazzaga. At the crossroads at the top of the town, we follow the arrows to the right for Montepiatto, soon emerging from the woods onto the path that enters the village. At the entrance to the hamlet, there is a convenient rest area equipped with a fresh water fountain and clear directions for both the Pietra Pendula and the church of Santa Elisabetta (St. Elizabeth). We reach the Pietra Pendula by traveling along the scenic Sentiero del Bosco, and from there, a short walk brings us to the churchyard of Santa Elisabetta, where we can enjoy a magnificent, sweeping panorama of Lake Como. Finally, we head down toward the traditional houses of Montepiatto using the historical Scala Santa steps, turning right at the junction onto the main path that quickly descends back to Torno and the harbor.