Walking the Greenway

The Greenway del Lago di Como is a walking route of about 11 kilometres on the western shore, from Colonno to Griante, beyond Cadenabbia, through Sala Comacina, Ossuccio, Lenno, Mezzegra and Tremezzo.

It links mule tracks, lanes between houses and stretches of the old Via Regina. It alternates climbs, descents and lakefront stretches, going through the villages, past vegetable plots, olive groves, churches, doorways and gardens. From Colonno to Sala Comacina it follows the old Regina along the hillside, and beyond Sala the view opens onto the Isola Comacina. At Ossuccio it passes the Romanesque church of Santi Giacomo e Filippo; at Lenno it follows the lakefront past the church of Santo Stefano and the Romanesque baptistery. From Lenno a cobbled lane climbs to Mezzegra, the church of Sant'Abbondio and the old core of Bonzanigo. The last stretch runs along the lakefront beside the main road: it goes through the Parco Teresio Olivelli and Tremezzo, passes Villa Carlotta and continues beyond Cadenabbia to Griante. The whole route takes about three and a half hours, but buses and boats let you walk just one section.

1. 01You reach Colonno on ASF's C110 bus, which stops all along the Greenway. At the southern entrance to the village the Greenway del Lago sign points up Via Cappella to the starting point.
2. 02The route is waymarked with arrows and metal plaques set in the paving. It starts at Colonno and ends at Griante, beyond Cadenabbia.
3. 03Colonno to Sala Comacina takes about 35 minutes, between terraces and small olive groves. From the chapel of San Rocco a stairway leads down to Sala's medieval core and its little harbour.
4. 04You can stop along the way: at Ossuccio for the Sacro Monte, a kilometre's climb past the chapels to the sanctuary; at Lenno for Villa del Balbianello, about a kilometre off the route, visited by booking only; at Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta and the Landscape Museum in Villa Mainona.
5. 05To get back, the C110 bus stops in every village and the boats call at Colonno, Sala Comacina, Lenno, Tremezzo and Cadenabbia. The car ferries to Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna also call at Cadenabbia.
6. 06Wear shoes with a good grip: the cobbles are slippery in the rain. The route is not advisable by bike, with its climbs, narrow cobbled lanes and steps. In a few places it crosses the Regina main road: cross with great care.

WhereTremezzina · Argegno · Colonno · Sala Comacina · Griante