The first stage of the Sentiero del Viandante is presented below with a single route from Lecco to Lierna, joining the Lecco-Abbadia and Abbadia-Lierna stages. This is a fairly long route: 17 kilometers and 5 hours of walking, with 490 meters of elevation gain. So good physical training is required. Those who do not feel like combining the two stages can keep the original split.
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First stage of the Wayfarer’s Path (Lecco-Lierna)
The first stage of the Wayfarer’s Path, in brief:
- Departure: Lecco, loc. Caviate (270m asl)
- Arrival: Lierna (290m asl)
- Length: 17.1 km
- Positive elevation gain: 490m
- Total duration: about 5 hours 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Medium
See the interactive map:
The Wayfarer’s Path from Lecco to Abbadia
Having reached Via dell’Abbadia in Lecco, Caviate, we climb some steps and, turning left, take a path through the woods. The first section of the Sentiero del Viandante, in fact, skirts the rockfall wall of Monte San Martino. On the left there is a nice view of the lake, although the proximity to the freeway and the railroad, which passes just below the trail, spoils the atmosphere a bit. After about 15 minutes of almost flat walking you arrive at Pradello.
Here the path descends to the road near some climbing crags. We continue for a short distance on the asphalt road in the direction of Trattoria dei Bodega (213m asl), pass it and take a stony path that re-enters the forest and begins to gain elevation with some steep sections for about ten minutes.
After that the trail flattens out slightly and an up-and-down phase begins. After cutting across a gravel slope, a steep descent is faced, which is followed by a flat section at a lower elevation, at the end of which we find a wooden ladder.
Now begins another up-and-down phase in the forest. After about ten minutes we pass under a large water pipe and finally find a metal ladder to descend. We walk down it and reach the lake level, near a small beach. Continuing beyond, following the main trail, we face a short climb that in a short time brings us to the Chiesetta di San Martino in Abbadia Lariana. This is where the original beginning of the Wayfarer’s Path was before the opening of the section between Lecco and Abbadia. Two hours have passed since the start.
Abbadia to Mandello
After a well-deserved rest, we resume our walk in the direction of the next village: Mandello del Lario. The Abbadia section of the Sentiero del Viandante (Wayfarer’s Path) presents itself as a simple mule track, passable by all. The trail passes behind the high hamlets of the village with a flat course and beautiful views of the lake. The route is always marked by the many orange plaques. Along this stretch we find signs for the Cenghen Waterfall several times.
Arriving near the village of Novegolo, the mule track ends and we return to walking on asphalt. We turn left and walk a short downhill stretch. Immediately after passing under the SS36 bridge, on the right, the Sentiero del Viandante resumes alternating sections on mule track and asphalt until we cross the first houses of Mandello. In the distance we see the Church of San Giorgio, which we reach in a short time (2 hours and 30 minutes from Lecco). Some precious frescoes are kept inside the church, and on holidays it is possible to visit it.
The Mandello section: from Maggiana to Rongio
After passing the church, we turn right and begin a steep climb on a cobbled road until we come close to the freeway. Here we turn right and cross a bridge over the SS36. Once on the other side, we take a path through the meadows until we find a paved road again. Here we turn left and continue for about a hundred meters, after which we bend slightly to the right in the direction of the hamlet of Maggiana, where the Barbarossa Tower, which can be visited free of charge, stands out. At this point it has been 3 hours since our departure.
The Wayfarer’s Path continues for another stretch of mule track between the houses of the hamlet, then enters the meadows. After a few minutes, we find signs with a sharp detour to the left. We re-enter the woods and continue up and down for about a quarter of an hour. At this point, coming out of the trees, we return among the meadows we gradually approach the hamlet Rongio (where the path to Baitello di Manavello starts). We reach the main square of the hamlet when 3 1/2 hours have passed since our departure in Lecco.
The Mandello stretch: from Rongio to Sonvico and the Meria River
From the small square in front of the church dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, we notice a flight of steps accompanied by the ever-present orange markers. We descend and turn left onto the downhill road and, after a few meters, right, in the direction of Ristorante al Verde. When we reach the restaurant, we turn right and take a wide, flat section of path, after which, always following the signs, we turn left and quickly descend into the bed of the Meria River, which at this very point carves an impressive passage under the rock.
We resume our walk on the trail, ascending the other side of the valley with fairly steep inclines. After about ten minutes we come out on a dirt road. We turn left and continue on level ground until the road becomes paved and, climbing slightly to the right, takes us into the middle of the hamlet of Sonvico. Here, coming out of the houses, we resume the flat path that in a few minutes takes us close to the Somana Cemetery.
Mandello to Lierna
At this point begins the perhaps most tedious, but most open-view part of the first stage of the Wayfarer’s Trail. We begin by walking on a long stretch of paved road. After about a quarter of an hour we find, on the left, a detour to Saioli and Lierna. We are now behind the hamlet of Olcio and indeed from here the view of the lake is remarkable.
This section of the Wayfarer’s Path does not present any kind of difficulty. The mule track descends with mild gradients until we reach the Saioli Chapel. We continue further and after a short while we find ourselves once again abutting the freeway. We are now trespassing in Lierna. Continuing on the main trail, we gradually descend toward the higher houses of the village, passing through meadows and vegetable gardens and walking on cobblestones. The Sentiero del Viandante (Wayfarer’s Path) now passes through a historic cluster of houses in the upper part of Lierna.
After a short stretch of asphalt road, we pick up a dirt mule track (Via Chignola) that takes us to the foot of the dilapidated structure of theformer Claretian Seminary. Here we once again find the paved road. We turn left and then right until we find, on the left, a flight of steps descending (Via Genico). Let us follow it until we cross Via della Libertà. We turn right and continue on Via Manzoni. Here, on the left, at a certain point we find a small path that, passing between houses, takes us straight to Lierna Station, where our first stage of the Wayfarer’s Path ends (5 hours and 30 minutes from Lecco).
About the Wayfarer’s Path
To learn more, read the general information about the Wayfarer’s Trail.
Description of stages:
- Stage 1: Lecco – Lierna
- Stage 2: Lierna – Varenna
- Stage 3: Varenna – Dervio
- Stage 4: Dervio – Colico
Your Guide for the Wayfarer’s Path
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Contact us now at info@trekkinglecco.com to arrange in detail an experience tailored to you.
Photos and text by Michele Castelnovo
Restricted Reproduction – Trekking Lecco
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