Holiday apartment in Plesio: trails, churches and alpine traditions

Plesio combines mountain trails, historic churches and living alpine traditions into a destination with several distinct lines of experience. Its character is particularly evident on the trails around Breglia, at the churches of Breglia and Barna, and on Alp Nesdale.

Hiking trails with varied landscapes

The Anello del Munt circular trail begins near the Cappella del Bergum. Beforehand, you walk from Mulino Spinzi for approximately 40 minutes along a mountain road to the Piazza. The trail offers a view of Lake Ceresio. The approximate walking time along the mountain road provides a clear timeframe for planning the day. The approach via the mountain road therefore forms a separate stage in the day’s schedule before the actual circular trail.

Another route is offered by the Anello di San Domenico circular trail: it leads from the Breglia district to a viewpoint near the Cappella di San Domenico. From the Oratorio di Sant’Amate, you can take the trail to Monte Bregagno. The hike from Breglia to Rifugio Menaggio initially follows a paved road and then a woodland path alongside a gravel road closed to traffic. On the route to Rifugio Menaggio, the paved section is followed by a woodland path along the closed gravel road; the change in surface is therefore a separate planning consideration.

Churches and traces of local history

The Santuario della Madonna di Breglia was built in the second half of the 18th century. A Stations of the Cross with depictions of the mysteries of the Rosary leads there. The sanctuary houses a marble Madonna that has been venerated for more than two centuries and was brought from Genoa in 1740 by a member of the Tatti family from Breglia.

The Church of San Fedele was elevated to parish church status in 1582 and partially rebuilt between 1808 and 1836. The present building of the Church of San Gregorio Magno in Breglia dates from 1873 and replaced an older structure that had been destroyed by a major landslide.

In Barna, the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena dates from the first half of the 17th century. Barna is also home to the most elaborate washhouse. It is located in a loggia covered by a cross-vaulted dome and open on all four sides.

Holiday apartment in Plesio: trails, culture and traditions

Above the settlement of Ligomena lie the remains of the “Fiamma di Plesio” marble quarry. The quarry was worked for approximately two decades, from 1935 to 1955. Summer transhumance continues to be practised on Alp Nesdale, where cheese is also produced.

The approximately 125-kilometre-long Via dei Monti Lariani consists mostly of paths and mule tracks, runs high above the entire western shore of Lake Como, and connects Cernobbio with Sorico.

More places for planning your trip: Albogasio, Carugo, Brienno, Argegno, Locate Varesino, Santa Maria Rezzonico, Dolo and Castelmarte.

For the higher-level travel overview: Como.