In the footsteps of the Matto di Brenzio

The Matto di Brenzio, the madman of Brenzio, was a bandit of the first half of the sixteenth century who, with his son Giovanni, terrorised the villages around Como and took refuge in his castle at Brenzio.

The loop climbs the first ridges of Monte Cortafon, with wide views over the Dongo plain, the Valtellina and the far shore of the lake. It starts from the churchyard of San Gregorio at Consiglio di Rumo and climbs by paved lanes and mule tracks between the houses of Tassimola, Taiana and Alborescia to Brenzio, where the church of San Giovanni Battista has paintings by the Fiammenghino and Isidoro Bianchi. A long panoramic straight leads to Stazzona and San Giuliano, beside which a masùn has been rebuilt, the stone and wood hut with a steep roof of rye straw that served as stable and hayloft. The descent goes by Vanzonico and Ganda, the area of the crotti: natural cellars whose steady temperature keeps wine, cheese and cured meats. Then it crosses the hamlet of Giussanico and reaches the Antica Regina, which leads back to San Gregorio.

1. 01A six-kilometre loop from San Gregorio at Consiglio di Rumo, between 230 and 520 metres: a route of moderate difficulty, about three hours, for any season.
2. 02At the junctions follow the signs for Alborescia, Brenzio and Stazzona on the way up, then for San Gregorio, Dongo and Gravedona on the way down.
3. 03San Gregorio and San Giuliano are open every day; San Giovanni Battista at Brenzio can be seen at Mass times.

WhereGravedona ed Uniti