This route takes you along the ridge of the hill northwest of Como in the park Parco Spina Verde. It is an easy walk which affords many panoramic points and refreshment possibilities in restaurants and picnic areas.
ITINERARY: Como, piazza Camerlata - San Fermo della Battaglia
WALKING TIME: 2hrs
ASCENT: 250 m
DIFFICULTY: Easy
TRAIL SIGNS: Signs “Dorsale della Spina Verde”. Where not present, follow the main trail
CONNECTIONS: From Como city centre to piazza Camerlata bus no. 1 direction S. Fermo every
20 minutes. Urban ticket.
From San Fermo to Como city centre bus no. 1 direction P . Chiasso. Zone 1 ticket
needed.
ROUTE: Head up the hill following via Santa Brigida e Respaù behind the bus stop in piazza Camerlata, way marked as “Parco Spina Verde. ”Follow the cobbled road uphill as it winds into the woods and leads to a junction near a meadow with a war memorial. Our route continues on straight but we recommend bearing right to reach Castel Baradello (15min.), a medieval defensive tower. The Baradello hill was a strategic defensive site and now it affords beautiful views of the town. You can visit the rest of the medieval defensive works and in summertime follow a guided tour of the tower on Sat. and Sun. The restaurant Baita Club Amici del Baradello, open upon reservation, and a picnic area with shadowy benches,offer the first refreshment site. Head back to the war memorial and follow the cobbled road “Salita degli Alpini” which skirts the property of the Hostel Respaù (393m), a nice rural house on a sunny hillock with an educational botanic route, rooms and restaurant open on weekends in summertime (in winter it opens on reservation).
Walk past the entrance of the hostel and aim for the path up the hill which leads to a plateau where you can find the way marks for San Fermo, which you follow turning left. Follow the fence of Cascina Respaù di Sopra (445m), ignore the path to Baita Elisa (unless you want to eat there: restaurant open on the weekends, nice panoramic terraces) and at the following junction follow the signs to Croce Sant’Eutichio. Walk along the path uphill to reach an aerial tower, then follow the line of some properties on your left. When the fences end, take the first trail right winding up and down hill to Croce Sant’Eutichio (1 hr from p. Camerlata). From here you have a wonderful view over the city of Como, the first part of the lake and the mountain of Brunate.
A few steps from this cross there is the restaurant Baita Monte Croce,open on the weekends, with a playground for children and a wide meadow.
The route continues along the mountain ridge towards San Fermo and leads to another panoramic point over the city and the lake. Continue downhill by following the largest trail and down a flight of cement steps to reach the first houses of San Fermo della Battaglia. Bear right through the meadow and follow via Monte Croce, then left along via Raimondi (attention children:surfaced roads!) and at the stop-sign turn right to reach the bus terminus beyond the pharmacy.
