Sentiero del Viandante: one of the most enchanting itineraries on Lake Como
The Sentiero del Viandante is one of the most enchanting itineraries on Lake Como and in the whole of Lombardy.
It is a fascinating route 45 km long suspended between the mountains and the Lecco shore of the lake, which offers breathtaking views and brings to mind Manzoni's words: "... that branch of Lake Como which turns midday, between two uninterrupted chains of mountains, all in bays and gulfs, depending on the protrusion and retreat of those... "
And it is precisely along this branch that a path runs halfway between woods and lake-view terraces planted with olive groves, small villages and their mountain hamlets: the Sentiero del Viandante .
The Wayfarer's Path: between nature, history and culture
The route starts from Abbadia Lariana , in the province of Lecco, to reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Valpozzo in Piantedo in the province of Sondrio, at the gates of Valtellina.
In the spring of 2021, a new section was also inaugurated: the one between the city of Lecco and Abbadia Lariana, the so-called " stage 0 ", which thus enriches the original route.
Walking the Sentiero del Viandante means taking a real leap into the past.
It is in fact a system of ancient mule tracks that were once the only connection between the towns on the banks of the Lario and their mountain hamlets.
Paths that have seen ancient generations of farmers , fishermen and travelers travel these streets in a continuous up and down between the shores of the lake and the mountains of Lecco.
The itinerary deserves to be followed not only for the beauty of its landscapes, but also because it leads us to the rediscovery of our territory in a union between art , nature and culture .
Photo by Manuela Brunello – Road to Lombardy
Wayfarer's Path: what can you expect?
In addition to the wonderful panoramic scenery along the path you will come across enchanting villages perched on the banks of the lake, small mountain villages, interesting historical and religious testimonies, including castles , old mills , wash houses , small churches and votive chapels .
In addition to these beauties we also find naturalistic corners of rare beauty such as the Bellano ravine (see stage 3) and the Cenghen waterfall (detour stage 1).
How to walk the Wayfarer's Path
Given the length of the itinerary (45km) and differences in altitude ranging from 400m to 800m, we recommend following it in 4 stages ( to which it is possible to add the so-called "stage 0" of 7km ), following the orange plates located for the path:
- Stage 0 ( recently added and not included in the original route of the Path ): from Lecco to Abbadia Lariana – travel time: 2 hours
- Stage 1 : from Abbadia Lariana to Lierna – travel time: 3.30 hours.
- Stage 2 : from Lierna to Varenna/Vezio – travel time: 3.30/4 hours depending on the variant chosen
- Stage 3 : from Varenna/Vezio to Dervio – travel time: 4.30 hours
- Stage 4 : from Dervio to Colico/Piantedo - travel time: 5.20 hours
The division into 4 stages is generic and depends a lot on your physical condition and how you want to live the experience.
Preparation of the Wayfarer's path
The itinerary does not require preparation from expert hikers and is suitable for everyone, but let's not forget that the mountains here rise suddenly and if you think of taking a simple walk by the lake you are not in the right place, especially in the second and fourth stages.
Equip yourself with a good pair of trekking shoes , a supply of water and food and let yourself be enchanted by the enchantment of Lake Como.
And don't forget to dedicate the time available not only to walking but also to contemplating what you will find before your eyes.
If you are not planning a 5-day stay on Lake Como and want to do the excursion in one day, the best way to enjoy every single stage is to reach your destination and then return to the starting point by train.
The presence of the Lecco-Colico railway connection is a considerable advantage which gives the possibility of carrying out the Sentiero del Viandante over time and even in different seasons, to experience Lake Como in all its facets.
Path of the Wayfarer: in which season is it best to do it?
Being at a relatively modest altitude and having good exposure, the itinerary can be done at any time of the year .
However, if you are wondering what is the best time to travel it, we recommend Spring and Autumn , when nature is in full bloom in the months of April and May or when the woods light up in all shades of orange and red, between mid-October and the end of November.
Winter can also offer extraordinary days, with the crisp air and clear skies of the first months of the year offering glimpses of touching beauty with the snow-capped peaks reflected in the lake.
In summer, however, temperatures can be decidedly high for walking the path, but if you take advantage of the early hours of the day or late afternoon you could be rewarded with a wonderful sunrise or an unforgettable sunset.
If we then take into account that you can relax in the cool of the woods and that on the lake there are various places where you can stop to take a regenerating bath after the effort, we can rightly also include summer as the season to enjoy this path ( one of the most enchanting beaches on this side of the lake is certainly the Riva Bianca di Lierna ).
In short, every month can offer unique emotions, the choice is yours!
Below we report the different stages with their technical specifications and the most interesting places not to be missed along the way.
Path of the Wayfarer: in which season is it best to do it?
Now you have all the information you need to embark on your short but intense journey!
All you have to do is start walking following the orange plaques that mark the path along the entire route and let yourself be transported to this wonderful shore of Lake Como.
We thank the author Manuela Brunello , the blonde with the suitcase for the article, here is her personal Instagram profile. While Road to Lombardia is her page to discover some places to visit in Lombardy.
What do you find near this place
Federico Cernobbio
- Cernobbio
Kilometer of Knowledge
- Como
- Villas and Gardens
Larios
- Como
The Powder Keg
- Como
