From Dascio to San Fedelino

This walk leaves Lake Como and follows a stretch of the old Via Regina around Monte Peschiera to the little temple of San Fedelino, one of the earliest examples of Romanesque art in Lombardy.

From San Biagio in Dascio you climb Via Bruga to the Sasso di Dascio, the spur above the Pian di Spagna, then go down to the Borzi houses and by a path among the rocks to the Acqua Bianca valley, crossed on the Valene bridge. Then come the ruins of old houses, dry-stone walls, the wooden bridge over the Acqua Marcia stream and the remains of a quarry, with half-worked granite blocks along the path, among Mediterranean scrub, up to the Brentaletto hump, the highest point. The zigzag descent needs some care and has a few exposed stretches. The Scalone, a stepped ramp, leads to the path along the Mera, and in a quarter of an hour, past a spur with metal stairs, you reach the temple. Built in the tenth century where San Fedele was martyred, it keeps its original form: a square hall with a projecting apse, a small window and three pairs of small arches, a gabled roof and no façade, since it stands against the mountain. Inside are fragments of frescoes: a Christ Pantocrator between two angels and the twelve apostles. A few steps further on is a small beach with a boat landing.

1. 01It is six kilometres one way from San Biagio in Dascio, between 200 and 500 metres above sea level, about three hours; the route is of moderate difficulty and can be walked all year. You come back the same way.
2. 02From the Brentaletto a variant for experienced hikers leads to the Alpe di Teolo lookout above the Pozzo di Madrone; from there it is better not to go down to San Fedelino but to return to the junction.

WhereDomaso · Sorico