Valle Intelvi: 4 excursions in the land between two lakes

We head to the heart of the Lombardian Prealps to discover a destination popular among casual climbers wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Nestled between Lake Como and Lake Lugano is an enchanting location divided between dense woodland and charming terraces, packed with incredible views and dotted with little ancient villages surrounded by nature.

We are in the Val d’Intelvi, a mid-mountain destination approximate an hour away from Milan, and a location that is certain to pleasantly surprise anyone in search of peace and beauty and who, at least for the span of a weekend, want to heal their soul by immersing themselves in the bounty of nature.

A stretch of the Earth where artists from the Renaissance and Baroque periods have left their mark in the shining examples of period architecture scattered across historic towns and where in every village craftsmanship is expressed in real works of arts.

Perfect for walking and cycling excursions, the Val d’Intelvi offers visitors some truly incredible walking routes that, on top of being suitable for all, invite you to discover the uniqueness of a region that, while considered to be the “Little Sister” of Lombardy’s valleys, has nothing with which to envy its more impressive and resonant neighbours when it comes to resources and passion.

With a mix of art, nature and magic, here are 4 walking routes that are absolutely worth exploring.

1. The Trail of Expressions — Accessible from the centre of Schignano by following signs to the hamlet of Posa (840m) where, after parking your car, you can continue on foot towards Alpe Nava, this extraordinarily beautiful first path, invites us to discover works of art made with bark and tree trunks by skilled woodcarvers. A special place where the tree trunks express the most diverse emotions of the soul and the woodland seems to come to life thanks to these expressive forms with a human face.

Read more

2. The bridle path to Erbonne — Starting in the heart of the Val d’Intelvi in the town of La Bolla, this relaxing path, which is entirely flat and takes about 90 minutes, goes from Casasco d’Intelvi, crossing a bridle path and opening out into a stunning view of Lago di Como and Monte San Zeno, before leading to the charming village of Erbonne, part of the Municipality of San Fedele di Intelvi.

Read more

3. Following the trenches on Monte Generoso — Our third route, which takes 4.5 hours on foot, gives us the chance to explore some First World War-era fortifications by following the trench line through the Monte Generoso Forest. We are in the Municipality of Pellio Intelvi, in the Province of Como on the border with Switzerland: here Monte Generoso (1701m), as the highest peak in the valley, played a crucially important role in the defence of Italy during the First World War, more specifically, the area under the control of the Northern Frontier Advanced Occupation Command, Responsible for the construction of these defensive line.

Read more

4. Lanzo - Sighignola — Suitable for both cyclists and those on foot, our final hike starts in the town of Lanzo which, following a slightly winding road built at the end of the First World War as part of the “Northern Frontier” (the Italian defensive system facing Switzerland, known as the Cadorna Line) will lead you to the so-called “Balcone d’Italia”.

Read more

Il Fiore di Borgoratto Mormorolo

A new network of hiking trails in Oltrepò Pavese.

Active & Green

Suzzara forest

An urban forest in the Municipality of Suzzara, created to recreate an environment typical of the Po Valley of the past.

Active & Green

Parks and gardens to explore online

Green virtual tours in Lombardy

Active & Green

A green escape in Milan

Active & Green

Adrenaline 9 thrilling experiences in Lombardy

Active & Green

Bruschera Oasis

On the shore of Lake Maggiore, it is a small paradise, a place of passage and nesting of various species of birds.

Active & Green

The Bassone Peat Bog in Albate

The Oasi Torbiere of Bassone di Albate encloses in a few hectares an extreme wealth of very different habitats.

Active & Green

Lake Iseo

Visit Lake Iseo between art and nature.

Active & Green

Learn from nature in the lowlands of the Po Valley

Take a lesson, and much more, from the educational farms on the Lombardy Plains, learning about the environmental and cultural wealth of our countryside.

Active & Green

Sempione park

Active & Green

Snowshoe walking in Prato Valentino: Anello Dosso Laù

Active & Green

Cliff Climbing in Sondrio and Valmalenco

Climbing aficionados will find many great spots in our area.

Active & Green

Spring in Valcamonica

4 ideas to enjoy the most sparkling season of the year in Val Camonica.

Active & Green

Mounts San Primo and Palanzone

On the highest peaks of the Triangolo Lariano, visitors will enjoy a 360° view of the Alps and of the Po valley

Active & Green

Where to Go Fishing in Lombardy

Carps, chars, trout. River and lake fish. Some advice on where to go fishing in Lombardy. From Pavia to Como

Active & Green

Valchiavenna and Valle Spluga

High mountain pastures, lakes, rivers and a varied network of hiking trails through nature and mountain villages where time seems to have stood still

Active & Green

Trekking with Alpacas

Alpacas la Foppa: the first alpaca farm in Valmalenco.

Active & Green

Sporting Landmarks in Lombardy

A selection of iconic sporting venues to take us through the history of sport in the Region as we move towards the Milano Cortina games.

Active & Green

Guide Valmalenco

In the Valmalenco Guides group you can find professionals who can accompany you on your adventures whether you are an expert, or simply dream of taking your first step.

Active & Green

The High Route of Valmalenco – 4th stage

Chiareggio (1612 m) - Rif. Longoni (2450 m) - A. Sasso nero (2304 m) - Rif. Lago Palù (1947 m)

Active & Green