Instead of this very long 12.4 mile hike, I would recommend driving from town to town. When walking, the towns are about an hour apart, and even though the valley slopes down to the lake, there is much climbing up to the towns' mountain perches. Taking the taxi to Orasso, we explored this beautiful town of 65 residents. Above the town, the 14th century Oratorio del Sasso on the Borromeo path - the route San Carlo Borromeo, bishop of Milan, traveled to visit his parishes in the 1570's - was a wonderful way station. Note the tiny white spire of Spoccia, center left below the cross. The fresco of The Madonna of the Belt, protector of travelers, on the outside wall of the Oratorio was inspiring. Both the name of the town and this chapel, come from the Latin term, oratio, land of prayers. Back through the town, we passed the St. Materno parish church and cemetery as we picked up the trail to Spoccia, down through lush green forest with stone arched bridges crossing cascading streams. The climb up through the forest, up a path of stepped stair to Spoccia, found us in front of the spire we had seen from the Oratorio. Only 45 residents, Spoccia held a commanding view of the valley below and there was a war memorial to men lost in WWI and WWII. From Spoccia we made a wrong turn, arriving at Lunecco instead of Gurrone. Recalculating, we followed the road down toward Cannobia, enjoying the small hamlets and the roaring gorge below. Rounding a bend, Cannobio was a welcome sight in the distance. One last stop at the Orrido of St. Anna, on a rock promontory over the river gorge with it's 12 century Roman bridge, before we crossed the suspension bridge (note the love locks) back to Hotel Pironi.
No comments:
Post a Comment