On foot in Lombardy

8 itineraries to discover Lombardy on foot. From Lake Maggiore to Val Camonica, and from Pavia to the heart of Val Masino.

Families with children or more or less experienced hikers: it makes no difference. From north to south and from east to west, Lombardy is crisscrossed by a multitude of paths for walkers of all sorts.

Amid ancient kilns, or mountain huts way up high, old pilgrims’ ways and paths for wayfarers, here are eight itineraries in Lombardy dedicated to those who love to explore the landscape at a slow pace.

Kilns Circuit | Lake Maggiore — The route follows the shores of Lake Maggiore. It is just over 6 km long and starts from Ispra and also includes a beautiful beach of large pebbles. Along the way there are a number of old kilns that produced lime, to fertilise in agriculture, for construction and also for the ceramics industry to which Cerro di Laveno Mombello has dedicated an entire museum.
Ph ig: @eispragram

The Alta Via della Valmalenco | Valmalenco — 110 km in 8 stages. In the heart of the Rhaetian Alps, the Alta Via della Valmalenco crosses the Disgrazia, Bernina and Scalino massifs at an altitude always above 2,000 m and in a unique setting, amid pastures, woods and lakes. The Via can be followed in its entirety from Torre Santa Maria to Caspoggio, returning to the starting point, or for partial sections of just 2 or 3 days.
Ph: Rifugi di Lombardia (www.rifugi.lombardia.it)

The Via Francigena | From Garlasco (PV) to Pavia — Stage 13 of the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrim’s way from Canterbury to Rome, starts from Garlasco and arrives in Pavia, after passing through 25 km of the Pavia countryside with its villages and beautiful countryside, irrigated by numerous canals and dotted here and there with farmhouses and groves of trees. In the last stretch, the route runs alongside the river Ticino as far as the Ponte Coperto (Covered Bridge) of Pavia.

Strada della Forra | Parco Alto Garda Bresciano — The Forra is reached from the Gardesana Occidentale state road. On arrival, you will see the plateau of Tremosine, marked by hills and valleys overlooking the Garda at an altitude of between 400 and 600 metres above sea level. The walk is 5.8 kilometres long. It takes about 2 hours to follow on foot. The promise? A memorable view over the lake at the heart of a nature that is still wild.

Alta Via dell'Adamello | Valle Camonica — Path no. 1 of Val Camonica passes through the Parco dell'Adamello for 85 km amid the traces left by the Great War. We start from Breno and in 7 stages and as many mountain huts, arrive at Edolo. The duration of the stages varies from 4 to 8 hours of walking, sometimes arriving at an altitude of over 3,000 m above sea level. To tackle Path no. 1, walkers must be in excellent physical condition and be equipped with suitable mountaineering equipment.
Ph: Wikiloc / Bruno196

Il Sentiero del Viandante (The Traveller’s Way) | Lago di Como – Val Masino — An interesting itinerary dating back to Roman times, it was once the only means of communication for the villages on the eastern shore of Lake Como. Following the lake from halfway up the hills, it offers the opportunity to enjoy a few hours of peace in nature. The path, once a route from Milan to Switzerland, covers a length of about 50 km, which can be covered in several stages. It starts from Abbadia Lariana (LC), near the church of S. Martino and arrives in Morbegno (SO).
Ph: Wikimedia

Abbazia di Morimondo Circuit | Morimondo (MI) — The starting point is the beautiful Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria di Morimondo from which, walking through the woods and poplar plantations of the Milanese countryside, one can reach the churches of Santa Maria Nascente at Coronate, San Cristoforo at Basiano, San Giorgio at Fallavecchia and San Michele at Besate. The walk is just over 16 km long. On the flat, it is suitable for all.

Forcella-Molere path | Lago di Iseo — The path winds for just over 5 km through the woods along the crest of the hill behind Sarnico, at an altitude of about 400 m. Restored along its course, it represents the main axis of a network of routes that continue from the Forcella area to the municipalities of Predore and Viadanica. Along the way you can observe the coppice woods, the outflowing stream from Lake Iseo and the Oglio river. The route ends at Cerro Alto, near Castione.
Ph: Wikiloc / Cesare60

Thousand-Year Larch Trail

The oldest tree in Lombardy can be discovered with an unusual hike among the breathtaking views of Valmalenco

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Tibetan bridges, the attraction of height without the risk

Four suspension bridges in Lombardy

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Ten Snowshoeing Treks in Lombardy

Choose a route through the woods or try out a panoramic trail on your snowshoeing trek!

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Il Fiore di Borgoratto Mormorolo

A new network of hiking trails in Oltrepò Pavese.

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Journey to the centre of the earth in Lombardy

Discover the secrets of Lombardy's mines: history, culture, mystery, and trade in the heart of the mountains

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Foliage in Lombardy

From Via Francigena to the Cadorna Line. Discover where to see the autumn colours in Lombardy

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Monumental trees in Lombardy

The art of knowing trees in Lombardy

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Ca' branchi walk - Somasassa - Caven - Tresenda

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Valmalenco sports centers

Valmalenco offers all nature lovers and sports enthusiasts various facilities-sports centers, each with its own special features.

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Where to harvest chestnuts in Lombardy

Forests, hills, panoramic viewpoints and plays of light: discover where and when to collect chestnuts in Lombardy, as well as other useful tips

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The “Triangolo Lariano”: the Corni di Canzo mountain group

These mountains are amazing for outdoor-life lovers with a choice of steep cliffs for climbers, erratic rocks for boulderers and high-altitude hiking trails with a lake view

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Horse riding

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Val Masino, the untamed heart of the Rhaetic mountains

Outdoor activities and chilling in Europe's little Yosemite. Mountains and valleys where nature rules supreme and the man who enjoys it respects its beauty

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Hiking with the Family

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Valsassina and the Grigne

From one-day trips that anyone can enjoy, to climbing on the vertical walls of the Grigne, through to splendid hikes leading up to the mountain refuges

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Six destinations with surprises

A visit to Lombardy in the autumn means discovering plenty of surprises hidden in the foliage of the woods, lovely castles on the lakes, and city cathedrals, that give you immersive experiences with plenty of mystery and beauty.

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Running al Parco di Monza

Running is good for you. And running in the middle of nature? Even better! Come and join us at Monza Park.

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Bouldering in Spriana

Spriana is one of the towns of Valmalenco. This is the ideal place for bouldering in spring or fall and is also great for kids, thanks to the park close to the bouldering area.