NATURALISTIC ITINERARIES

PINETA DI APPIANO

Difficulty ••
Departure and arrival: Tradate

How to get there:motorway Milano-Laghi, exit at Saronno, then left onto the 233 highway for 14 km.
Type of route:aphalt road, for all types of bikes
Length: 39 km
Travelling time: 3 hours
Recommended period: all year

From Tradate, you head north towards Venegono Inferiore, which you cross by first turning left and then, when you have arrived in the centre of the town, right. You continue towards Venegono Superiore and when you get to the traffic lights opposite the church, keep to the right before going left uphill to cycle around the Parco della Colombara, before a slight climb towards Binago. Before reaching Binago, take the right for 2km towards Figliaro, which you should cross in a southerly direction, keeping to the right in the direction of Castelnuovo Bozzente. The rural landscape you have been covering so far, now gives way to the forest of the Pineta d’Appiano. The asphalt road that leads towards Tradate is immersed in a thick forest of heather, birch and pine trees. Around 8 km from Castelnuovo, you pass a road to your left that leads to Appiano Gentile, via another thick forest. After having visited the village,return to Tradate, taking the same road in order to avoid roads with heavy traffic. After around 2.5 km, take the left, following directions for S. Bartolomeo al Bosco, a sylvan church from the XII century, - located just a few hundred metres from the main road. From there, take the path that leads to Cascina Villafranca before going onto Cascina Bozzascia and finally Tradate. Those with mountain bikes can venture onto the paths that cut through the pine forest.

BOSCHI DI CITTIGLIO

Difficulty •••
Departure and arrival: Cittiglio

For mountain bike enthusiasts and lovers of tough itineraries (slopes from 7 to 12%), this trail offers you the ideal chance for an adventure in a forest oasis. From the centre of Cittiglio continue towards Vararo. By following an uphill road of 800 metres, you can take a detour from the main itinerary to visit the waterfalls to the left. To do this you must walk for around 700 metres. Getting back on course, continue uphill passing through lime and chestnut tree woods for about 7 km. Arriving to Vararo (worth a visit) take the left hand road towards the Rifugio Adamoli, approximately 1 km from the hillock. A steep descent starts here and leads you to Sant’Antonio, where there is a small church with a magnificent fresco on its left wall. Take the right towards Arcumeggia and then turn right again at the bridge in order to avoid the traffic from the main road. Riding near to clusters of hamlets, you arrive at Villa della Porta Bozzolo (Italian National Trust), a good resting point. Follow the directions for "Sentiero 3V: Via Verde Varesina", keeping to the right. The trail is on flat, or almost flat, land. At the fountain in Piazza Zaffrani, go left until you get to a “stop” sign and then turn right towards Brenta. If you choose, you can take a diversion on the right to visit the S. Quirico Sanctuary from the XII century. Continuing straight on, you reach the arrival point: Cittiglio.

SACRO MONTE, FORTE D’ORINO

Difficulty ••••
Departure and arrival: Orino

Leave from the Ristorante Villa Belvedere in Orino: go left on Via Fiume, following signs for Rocca di Orino. After about 1.5 km of unsurfaced road, you get to a junction: turn left and continue along the unsurfaced road that leads to the provincial road. At the aforementioned juction, you could opt to turn left in order to visit the enchanting Rocca di Orino, a place of great historic-cultural value. When you get to the provincial road, turn right, following signs for Castello Cabiaglio and Brinzio. When you get to the centre of Brinzio, turn right at the traffic lights and then, after 50 metres, left onto Via Virgilio. In this way, you can get onto trails 4 and 5 until reaching Mottarossa. You should then turn right onto the provincial road towards Rasa di Varese. After about 1 km, the “3V: Via Verde Varesina”track starts on the right. You should then take the tough uphill track that leads to Sacro Monte di Varese, one of the most suggestive holy mountains to be found in Italy. The Via Sacra, divided into fourteen chapels, illustrates in a simple and educational manner, the theological teachings of the Catholic faith. Continue past the Osservatorio Astronomico and take trail number 1 for Forte d’Orino, 1139 metres above sea-level. This is the highest point in the itinerary and you can enjoy some fantastic views. After a rest, take the same trail downhill, which goes through dense forest until you get to your starting point - take extra care on the downhill slopes!

LACUSTRINE OR RIVER ITINERARIES

PARCO DEL TICINO

Difficulty •
Departure and arrival: Sesto Calende, Lungo-Ticino.

The Parco del Ticino, created with the aim of preserving the natural environment along the river bank, was founded in the mid-seventies by merging two reserves; one in Lombardy and the other in Piemonte. The suggested itinerary is easy and highly suitable for families. From Sesto Calende, take the southbound downhill road, following the easily visible signs for the “Sentiero Europeo” (E1 route). After around 2 km, just after the Lucciola restaurant, turn left towards the Golasecca-Sesona road. You should cross this and then go downhill again towards Coarezza and the Somma Lombardo bridge over the Ticino.When you get to the Canale Elena, you should leave the E1, taking the canal towpath in a southerly direction – no access is allowed to cars. After about 10 km, you cross the 517 freeway, which leads to the Oleggio bridge over the Ticino. Having passed the bridge and the Del Ponte restaurant, you will cross a drainage canal, parallel to Villoresi. Take the immediate left, going along the the towpath between the two canals and then uphill in a northerly direction until you pass Vizzola Ticino, Maddalena and Conca di Pamperduto. Below Somma Lombardo, you will arrive at the road you took on the outward journey, which leads you back to your starting point. Of particular interest on this itinerary is the Miorina dam, where the Ticino really takes on a majestic appearance. 2500 years ago, this area was full of villages and burial grounds with magnificent tombs.

LAGHI DI VARESE, COMABBIO, MONATE

Difficulty •
Departure and arrival: Gavirate

This itinerary takes in a mix of unsurfaced and asphalt roads, near the banks of three minor lakes of morainic origin in the Varese area: from Lake Varese to the one in Comabbio and then, finally, the tranquil surroundings of Lake Monate, set amongst its fields of corn and its locust-tree woods. Departure is from Gavirate, where you should head towards Bardello: there, you should turn right towards Biandronno, an ancient village on a hill top, opposite Isolino Virginia, the most important prehistoric post in the area. By following the yellow signs which lead to Via Isolino Virginia,you will arrive at the boatman’s house, at n. 31, for those who desire transfer services. The trail continues and, further on, the asphalt road gives way to an unsurfaced track immersed in scrubland. After about 1.5 km it joins up with the asphalt road that takes you on to Cassinetta Rizzone. Go along this road - from Ternate it will lead you to the village of Comabbio, once past the freeway. You will be riding along an enchanting little road alongside Lago di Menate until getting to Cadrezzate, where you should leave the lakeside and follow the “motocross” signs, taking the left hand road that leads to Brebbia. At first you should follow the signs for Besozzo and then turn right towards the freeway, which crosses your path at a junction with traffic lights. You then get to Bardello, avoiding passing through Malgesso, and finally, you turn left for Gavirate.

LAGO DI VARESE E PALUDE BRABBIA

Difficulty ••
Departure and arrival: Cazzago Brabbia

An easy itinerary in the splendid setting of Basso Varesotto and Lake Varese. From the town of Cazzago Brabbia, you should take the righthand unsurfaced road (next to the bus-stop) for 1 km, through a thick forest which flanks Lake Varese. Arriving at Cassinetta Rizzone, turn left towards Biandronno Gavirate. Half way up this ascent, which leads to the town of Biandronno, take the downhill road, Via Marconi, on the right until the embarkation point for Isolino Virginia, one of the most important pre-historic lake dwellings in Italy. Turn onto this road, heading towards Cassinetta Rizzone and then, after 100 metres, turn right again onto the road running alongside the Palude Brabbia marshes, a Regional Nature Reserve. Continue, with the railway on your right, until Varano Borghi; at the end of this village, turn right towards Comabbio lake, passing under an ancient railway bridge. Take the provincial road again, skirting the lake until Corgeno. In the central piazza, turn right towards the “municipio” (town hall) and then on towards Cuirone, along a winding uphill road. If you wish to take a pleasant detour, take the unsurfaced road, which starts at the Cuirone hillock at Via San Giacomo, to the left of a white villa, which will lead you to Lago Moncheri, after 2km of downhill peddling. You should then follow signs for Cimbro, Vialldosia and San Pancrazio, going across fields. Finally, turn left towards Bernate and Inarzo, along a scenic route that takes you to Cazzago Brabbia.

ITINERARI STORICI

ANGERA, LAVENO

Difficulty •
Departure and arrival: Angera

Leaving Angera, take the coastal road until Ranco and,from the village centre, take the left for the Cavallazzo stone. Continue towards Quassa, and then onto the provincial road, crossing the old nucleus of Ispra until you get to Punta d’Ispra. Then turn back on yourselves towards Cascine Nuove. Go under the railway track, towards Brebbia and then towards Turro, Monvalle and Sangiano. This track is asphalted and takes you past farmhouses and plantations until Mombello and then Laveno. In order to return, take the road that runs southbound alongside the lake, passing Cerro and Reno and taking a break at the splendid hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, a monastery dating back to the XII century,property of the Province of Varese. From the sanctuary, get back onto the road for Arolo, Monvallina, Turro and Ispra, pass Ranco again until reaching Angera. If you wish to visit the Rocca di Angera and its picturesque surroundings, the route is 15 km longer: when you pass Ranco, take the Uponne road and then turn right onto the little road heading towards the Cascina Monte Albano. Then turn south in the direction of Vigne Socche, passing through meadows and woods, until you return to the top of Angera. There you should follow directions to “S. Quirico” until you arrive at a seventeenth century church. There is a steep descent along the path that takes you towards the Cascina Caravelle, which finishes on an asphalt road running parallel to the lake promenade. Following this, and keeping to the left, you head back towards Angera passing right by the beautiful Rocca which dates back to the time of the Visconti and is well worth a visit.

I TRE SANTI

Difficulty ••
Departure and arrival: Muceno (Porto Valtravaglia)

Type of route: paved and earth roads, suitable for mountain-bikes
Length: 29 km.
Travelling time: about 2 hours and 30 minutes
Recommended period: all year

This itinerary, almost entirely in wooded areas, offers beautiful colours in autumn and intoxicating perfumes in spring. Leaving Muceno, it starts with an easy ascent along the 3V route. After the first 2 km on paved roads, it moves onto an easy earth path with a steady slope. After 10 hairpin bends of the road, you will arrive just under Monte Pian Nave.At the end of the climb, if you look south-west, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the lake and the Alps. Five minutes downhill will take you to the village of S.Michele, where you will be able to replenish your water bottles at the small drinking fountain on the outskirts of the village. After crossing the village, turn left after 500 m onto another earthen path. Initially this road is full of ups and downs, but it then becomes easy going, until it crosses a second path, at another hairpin bend. The route becomes uphill once again at this point for about 1 km. It will take you to Villa S. Giuseppe. Once the road becomes paved again, go in the direction of S.Martino. Near the peak, turn left back onto route 3V where there is a long quick descent (never dangerous) that will take you back onto the SP7 (provincial road). After another short uphill climb on a paved road, you reach S. Antonio: if you don’t use your breaks you will quickly reach Nasca. Turn right onto the SP31 at Nasca, and you will find Muceno 3 km down the road.

CUVEGLIO, ARCUMEGGIA, VALCUVIA

Difficulty •••
Departure and arrival: Canonica di Cuveglio

Valcuvia is a wide valley floor in which the Boesio torrent flows. The itinerary starts from Canonica di Cuveglio; just before the only set of traffic lights, you will see a small piazza on the right where you can leave your car. From here you should head towards Duno, on an asphalt road. It is well worth stopping off in Duno to visit the Medici d’Italia votive temple and the Dei Santi church. Continuing along the uphill road, you will get to Monte S.Martino – the first 3 km are very demanding, while the last 4 km, before arriving at the summit, are less tiring. When you arrive at the top, your efforts will be well rewarded by the views over Lake Ceresio and the surrounding villages. A curious fact: under the trattoria, there is a cave which was used as a military refuge during the First World War, called the “Passagio Cadorna”. Leaving the summit, you should take the mule track that goes down towards Monte Rossel and then on towards the valley floor, where you will come to a crossroads with an asphalt road. By turning left here you will get to the small village of Arcumeggia, an ancient Roman garrison. Taking the downhill road again, you should turn right at the first crossroads, arriving at Casalzuigno, where you can visit the Della Porta-Bozzolo Villa (Italian National Trust). You should then return to Vergobbio, in order to get to Cuveglio.