Strada Regia Trail: Stage 1

First Stage from Brunate to Torno

From the Brunate Funicular to Capovico di Blevio

From Como, we reach Brunate via the historic funicular railway, and after leaving the station, we follow Via Roma, turning left into Via Nidirino after a short stretch. The paved road ends near the Nidirino sports center, where the historical mule track to Capovico di Blevio begins on the right side at the end of the soccer field. The path descends steeply into the woods, and after crossing through two valleys, we reach a beautiful vantage point overlooking Cernobbio and the mouth of the Breggia stream. At the next junction, we turn left, go around a group of traditional farmhouses, and continue to descend steeply toward Capovico.

Through the Ancient Alleys of Blevio to the Perlasca Cliff

Once in Capovico, we turn right for the hamlet of Sopravilla, where we can walk the ancient alleys of Blevio where time seems to have stood still. From Sopravilla, we enter Sorto, and past the church of the Immaculate (Immaculate Conception), we cross the mule track that climbs up to the Pietra Nairola, a large, rectangular erratic boulder suspended over the path. Moving from Mezzovico, we reach Meggianico and the staircase leading to Cazzanore. We carefully descend toward the lake along a short stretch of the Provincial Road 583, and just before the tunnels, we turn left for the village of Perlasca, officially entering the territory of Torno.

The Views from the Tuè Chapel and Hermann Hesse's Torno

Upon arriving in Perlasca, we head up Via Rasina to the top of the cliff, where the small Cappella del Tuè offers a beautiful viewpoint over Torno, Moltrasio, and the first basin of Lake Como. Just past the chapel, the descent to the village of Torno begins. The famous writer Hermann Hesse was enchanted by the beauty of Torno, dedicating a beautiful page to this town in his 1911 book, Klingsor's Last Summer. We highly recommend a visit to the church of San Giovanni (St. John), where the Holy Nail from the Passion of Christ is kept, and the church of Santa Tecla (St. Thecla), featuring magnificent frescoes by Bartolomeo De Benzi. From Torno, you can easily return to Como via the ASF C130 bus line or by using the public boat services.