Monte San Martino and the Rifugio Piazza

Monte San Martino, 1090 metres, is the last southern spur of the Grigne: its walls rise sheer right above Lecco and also serve as a climbing crag.

Manzoni names it at the opening of The Betrothed, beside the Resegone. The people of Lecco also call it Monte Marcio, the rotten mountain, for the landslides that break its rock away; towards the lake the face drops in a row of towers, the Pizzetti. The classic path starts from the district of Rancio: in Via Paradiso the gradient makes itself felt at once, then path 52 enters thick woodland, over stretches of earth and rock steps, and on a stone appears the inscription “L'è dura”, it's hard, which announces the arrival. The little church of San Martino, at 746 metres, is a chapel dedicated to the Madonna del Carmine, on a natural terrace from which the lake begins to show; a few steps away is the Rifugio Riccardo Piazza, at 767 metres. Higher up, at 1046 metres, the Crocione has a small metal platform jutting out over Lecco, from which you see every district of the town, Monte Barro, the lakes of Garlate and Annone and, on the clearest days, the Milanese plain.

1. 01From Rancio to the chapel on path 52: a hiking path (E), 397 metres of climb, an hour and a quarter. Starting from Via Quarto and going up to the Crocione, the route is 5.5 kilometres long with 800 metres of climb.
2. 02From the chapel to the Crocione, the Sentiero Silvia is for experienced hikers (EE): 300 metres of climb, about fifty minutes, over easy rock steps where you use your hands. It is not unduly exposed, and fixed chains help on the steepest stretches.
3. 03The Sentiero dei Pizzetti, number 53, climbs from the Santo Stefano district to the Rifugio Piazza: very exposed and demanding, EE with chained sections (EEA), 527 metres of climb in an hour and a quarter. It calls for sure feet, no fear of heights and sound mountain experience. Sections graded EEA require a harness, helmet and via ferrata set, together with the skills to use them.
4. 04For a loop, climb from Laorca to the Corno Medale on path 56 (EE, 599 metres of climb, an hour and a quarter), follow the ridge on path 57 to the Crocione (E, 262 metres, fifty minutes) and come down on path 52, past the Rifugio Piazza.
5. 05Check that the Rifugio Piazza is open before setting off. Facing the sun, the mountain can be climbed almost all year, but in rain, ice or snow the rocky stretches and the chains become dangerous.
6. 06Rancio is a district of Lecco about a kilometre and a half from the centre. Parking on Via Paradiso and Via Quarto is limited, so it is best to arrive early in the morning; hiking shoes with very good grip are a must.

WhereLecco