13V Varenna-Esino Lario-Varenna

Loop route that begins at the Varenna-Esino-Perledo station and offers enchanting views through the Lecco municipalities of Varenna, Perledo and Esino Lario. Starting from the station, heading south, take the road to Passo Agueglio to Esino Lario, running alongside the scenic stream of the same name. After about 6.5 km uphill along the provincial road, you arrive in the square of Esino Inferiore, where you can visit the church of St. John the Baptist and a short walk away is the Grigne Museum. Along the road you reach the San Giovanni wash house from where a short but steep descent begins. Continuing along the ancient mule track, you reach the valley floor at the ruins of a dam on the Esino stream. Here you cross the stream on an ancient stone bridge of Roman tradition, surrounded by the remains of several mills. This place is located at the junction of the Vigna and Ontragno valleys. Continuing on, at the next fork, keeping to the left, follow the path that runs halfway up the valley until you reach the Gesuolo delle Pianche. This site marks the border between Perledo and Esino Lario and is known for the tradition of "calling water" in case of drought, an act of popular devotion. From here the descent is challenging, suitable for experienced bikers, from Esino Lario to Varenna via Vezio Castle and on a section of the Sentiero del Viandante. There are several technical passages with climbs and drops.

A new cycle network has been created in the Upper Lake Como area. There are 23 routes in two large areas along the lake's shores, for a total of 380 kilometers. Two routes are for beginners, 10 for intermediates, 8 for advanced cyclists, and 3 for experts. The difficulty scale and route tracking were verified by CAI experts, and an international evaluation standard was adopted in agreement with the Lombardy Region.

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Along the routes, there are many panoramic points where you can admire the stunning beauty of Lake Como. The app provides all the information you need to safely navigate the routes, including directions to equipped areas, places of art and culture to visit, and events scheduled in the towns along the chosen route. You can also watch videos of the best panoramic views.

THE CYCLE ROUTES OF THE WESTERN NORTH LAKE COMO - There are 8 new routes at mid-mountain and high altitude, for a total length of 134 kilometers. The routes connect to existing connections between mountain towns and lakeside towns, where there is already a cycle path. The routes start in Sorico and pass through Montemezzo, Vercana, Trezzone, Livo, Peglio, Dosso del Liro, Gravedona ed Uniti, Stazzona, Dongo, Garzeno, Pianello del Lario, Musso, and end in Cremia.

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THE CYCLE ROUTES IN THE VALSASSINA - There are 15 routes that allow you to climb from the lake to the Valsassina and Valvarrone, taking advantage of the trails on Mount Legnoncino; the loop circuits in the North Valsassina; the connections with the Valsassina cycle path; and the routes of the Val d'Esino.

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WHAT ARE INTERNAL AREAS AND THE "UPPER LAKE COMO AND VALLI DEL LARIO" STRATEGY? - The "North Lake Como and Valli del Lario" Area Strategy was launched in 2018 as part of the National Strategy for Internal Areas 2014/2020. It involved 31 municipalities in the Valsassina, Valvarrone, Val d'Esino, and Riviera (Lecco) communities and the Valli del Lario and Ceresio communities (Como). The National Strategy for Internal Areas (SNAI) is a strategic plan designed to enhance and develop internal areas, which are often characterized by challenges such as depopulation, lack of services, and fewer economic opportunities. The goal is to promote the sustainable development of these areas by investing in infrastructure, services, the local economy, and the preservation of cultural and natural resources. The "Upper Lake Como and Valli del Lario" Area Strategy, implemented in the period 2018/2023, has made it possible to implement 31 projects for a total of 20 million euros, of which 5,285,000 euros were used to promote interventions to recover and enhance the heritage and to strengthen the cycle and hiking routes between the lake and the valleys.

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