Dervio to Lierna

9 points of interest

  • Tourist

    Church of Saints Quirico and Giuditta

    Built in Dervio at the foot of the mountain on the left bank of the Varrone, is dedicated to the two martyrs of the fourth century and is the oldest church in the region so it is mentioned in documents dating from the year 814.
  • Panoramic

    Panoramic point

    View of the lake from the village of Ronchi before crossing the Torrente Valle Grande.
  • Tourist

    Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tears

    The sanctuary is set in a panoramic area overlooking Lake Como. It has a baroque façade and a unique nave with a wealth of marble, stucco and paintings. Outside the church, there are chapels depicting the life of Jesus.
  • Panoramic

    Gorge of Bellano

    Narrow and deep gorge dating back 15 million years with waterfall, accessible by suspension bridge.
  • Tourist

    Church of Saints Nazaro and Celso

    Built around 1300, it is very well maintained and surrounded by a beautiful view of the village and the lake.
  • Historical

    Church of Santi Rocco e Sebastiano

    The church of Saints Rocco and Sebastiano al Ponte stands next to the stream of Pioverna, which shortly afterwards flows into the famous Orrido. Its construction in 1489 is attested to by the date inscribed above the portal. The church was consecrated in 1502 and again in 1587, and became the seat of the Confraternity of the same name, which administered it until it was abolished in 1786. Restored in 1969, it is now the Sanctuary of the Bellanese fallen in all wars and houses two paintings by Bellanese painter Giancarlo Vitali.
  • Panoramic

    Panoramic point

    View of Lake Como before arriving in Varenna.
  • Historical

    Castle of Vezio

    Imposing 12th century castle with lake and mountain views from the tower; guided tours of the dungeons.
  • Panoramic

    Source of Fiumelatte

    Cascade accessible from the village by stairs with the possibility of picnicking.

Description

From the village of Vezio, two marked paths are possible: 
- a longer high version that climbs in altitude (+ 1km and 1000m of positive difference in altitude), described as a variant in the next stage, 
- a faster lower version, described in this stage.

  1. Pass to the left of the Orezia tower and descend to the via Valvarrone (SP67) along a path that zigzags through the houses after the tower and then down the mountainside. Follow the via SP67 which turns left towards the via Armand Diaz which then becomes the via Duca d'Aosta (former Austrian military road from Stelvio to Spluga. Cross the river Varrone, pass the church of San Quirico and gradually leave Dervio, approaching the mountain and reaching the railway bridge.

  2. Before the railway bridge, turn left onto a staircase marked Sentiero del Viandante "SV" which climbs towards Chignolo. Enjoy this path with care for its view of the lake and for its construction, either dug into the rock or terraced with retaining walls, between gardens and terraces planted with vines, olive trees and palm trees. After a rock engraved in 1693, pass over the houses of Ronchi, then past a baroque chapel before reaching the furrow of the Valle Grande torrent, the boundary between the towns of Dervio and Bellano. After a second valley, join the road that climbs to Verginate and follow it southwards, crossing three thalweg to the hamlet of Oro.

  3. At the exit of Oro, after the third stream, take the path on the left that climbs towards Pendaglio. At the top, turn right to bypass the SS36, follow the path into the Mulini valley (in reference to the presence of mills in the past) and then into a second narrow valley with water niches to climb to the carriage road that leads up from Bellano to Vendrogno. Cross the road and continue upwards to enter the old part of Lezzeno, and take an alley that leads to the sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna delle Lacrime. From the park of the sanctuary, descend a moderate slope towards the hamlet of Ombriaco and then after the washhouse, a steep slope and many steps towards the church of San Rocco in Bellano to reach the bridge over the Pioverna torrent.

  4. After the bridge, follow the path, crossing the SP62 three times and passing the chapel of Sant'Andrea halfway up the hill and then the chapel of the Madonna Addolorata before reaching the bridge over the Bosio. Climb the SV path on a moderate slope to the valley of the Valle Masna torrent below the hamlet of Regoledo and continue along the slope to join the Sacra Famiglia road until you reach a marked bend on the left with an oratory. At the bend, take the path on the right that descends and joins the Cava Bassa road and then climb the Perledo road to a hairpin bend in the via per Esino. Take the road on the right and then the first path on the left at a fork.

  5. Follow the SV path upwards, passing under the village of Regolo and arriving at the baroque chapel of the Madonna di Compallo, with a magnificent view of the Vezio promontory, through terraced meadows. After a steep descent, you pass through the artistic quarter of Compallo and cross the Esino torrent before climbing steep stairs to the centre of Vezio. From the Vezio cemetery, you can follow a path to the right that leads to the castle, or turn left following the "SV" signs of the lower variant along a dilapidated garden. Cross the Scabiun meadows to reach the via Al Cimitero and shortly afterwards take the path on the left that climbs up and turns right to pass behind the Varenna cemetery (great view). There are two ways to reach Lierna: follow the lake shore along the SP72, which is less busy than when it was the SS36 motorway, or follow the steeper SV path.

  6. Following the SV path, turn right to reach the source of the Fiumelatte, known as the "shortest" river in Italy, at only 300 metres long. Back at the crossroads, climb up to the rampart, reach a small panoramic grassy clearing surrounded by tall cypresses, pass over the spring and continue through the woods to the exit over the motorway. Follow the same road to the entrance of the next tunnel and, shortly after the fork in the road, you can leave the lower SV path and go down to the right along the SS36 to the Pino road, passing under the railway line to reach the SP72. Alternatively, continue on the lower SV path which climbs to cross the Valle Vacchera torrent before descending steeply and then less steeply to Giusana and then to Lierna.
  • Departure : Church of San Leonardo, Frazione Castello 6, 23824 Dervio
  • Arrival : Church Sant’Ambrogio, Via Papa Giovanni XXIII 41, 23827 Lierna
  • Towns crossed : Lombardia

Altimetric profile

Transport

Zug:
Trenord, Linie R13 Lecco-Colico-Sondrio,
Tel. 02-72.49.49, trenord.it.

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