Itinerari consigliati a piedi nei dintorni di Menaggio con piantina

MONTI DI NAVA 5This itinerary leads from Croce through thewoods up to the pasture fields of Monti di Navaand then descends to Griante with a marvelousview of the center lake area and the surroundingmountains.- starting point: Croce 393 m (2 km fromMenaggio)- Menaggio – Croce by bus: line C12- return: Griante – Menaggio by bus line C10or by foot 3 km- total walking time: 3.30 hrs- ascent: 450 m.- trail signs: red/white/red 2 as far asBocchetta di Nava.Route: From the bus stop at Croce in front of HotelAdler, continue for about 30 m on the main road andthen cross it. Pick up the road in the direction of thegolf course indicated with the trail signs of the “Viadei Monti Lariani” trail n° 2. The Via dei MontiLariani is a trekking route of 125 km that connects the“Monti” on the west side of the lake. This walk followsa small part of this marvelous route as far asBocchetta di Nava. You pass a typical washhouse onyour right and slightly further you pick up the path onthe right that leads up to the church of the Madonna diPaullo. From the churchyard you have a nice view ofthe Menaggio valley. From here you follow the steepcart track that with the signs of the “Via dei MontiLariani” ascends through the woods to the area Miéand from there to the beautiful pastures of “Monti diNava” at the foot of Monte Crocione. An even trackleads to “Bocchetta di Nava” and near the last building(sign Griante) you leave the “Via dei Monti Lariani”(path 2 continues as far as San Fedele d’Intelvi) andyou pick up the trail to the left. The old roman road“L’antica Strada Regina”, one of the main connectionroads with the alpine passes, used to lead overBocchetta di Nava down to Griante. The track leadsdown in wide bends with a most beautiful view of thepeninsula of Lavedo, and the towns of Tremezzo,Mezzegra and Lenno. The trail then turns to the slopeabove Griante with a splendid view of Sasso SanMartino and its little church. You pass the deviation forthe “Cappella degli Alpini” (reachable in 10 minutes)and shortly after you arrive at a fork where you keepleft. The track ends up on a road that connects Rogarowith Griante; turn left in the direction of Griante andafter a few hundred meters you will pass a deviationleading to the church S. Martino on the left. You continuestraight on though, in Via Cruziada that after awhile descends steeply and eventually ends in Via S.Martino. Slightly ahead on the left there is a seconddeviation for the church S. Martino which, if youwish, can be reached from here in about in 40 min.Along the path to San Martino there are a series of littlechapels decorated with mosaics representingvarious stages of Christ’s life. About half way youencounter the chapel Cappella degli Alpini, dedicatedto S. Carlo. The S. Martino church was built in the XVIcentury to house the wooden statue of the 14th centuryrepresenting the Madonna with Child. The legendtells that the statue was found in the 16th century by ashepherd girl in a cave in the mountains where it wasput a century before by an inhabitant of Menaggiowhen the town was destroyed by the Grigioni. The statuewas brought down to the parish church where itmiraculously disappeared and was found again on theSasso di S. Martino. This was interpreted as the desireof Maria to be venerated on the mountain. First asmall shrine was built and then the church.Past the deviation for the church you continue in ViaS. Martino and after 30 meters you can choose to followthe continuation of Via S. Martino to the right thatleads into the historical center of Griante, that is wortha visit, or you can continue in Via Vignolo that ends inVia Belvedere. Follow it to the left in order to arriveon the main lake side, right in front of the bus stop (byfoot to Menaggio 40 minutes).