Costa Volpino: Hiking Trails, Cycling Routes and Churches

Explore Costa Volpino through its varied trails and cultural sites: along the Oglio, you’ll find opportunities for walks and bike rides, while hiking trails lead to higher elevations. There are also churches in several hamlets and historical traces in Volpino. To plan your visit, first decide whether you’d rather focus on riverside routes, a longer hike or individual landmarks.

Hiking between Corti, Volpino and the higher elevations

The fourth stage of the Cammino di Carlo Magno passes through Corti and Volpino, two hamlets of Costa Volpino. The entire stage is 16.1 kilometres long; 40 percent runs along unpaved paths and 60 percent along paved paths and roads. These figures give you an idea of the character of this longer section, which passes through both hamlets. In Costa Volpino, Tratta 13 of the Sentiero Alto also intersects with the Sentiero dei laghi basso.

Several hikes explore the higher-altitude villages and landscapes. The Tour panoramico dell’alto lago runs from Corti to Lovere, via Ceratello, the Bossico plateau and the Santuario di San Giovanni in Monte Cala. Another option is the Bossico–Ceratello route: from the hamlet of Ceratello, a comfortable, scenic agricultural and forestry road runs for about two kilometres to the Bossico plateau. The stated walking time is about one hour. If you’re planning a longer excursion into the mountains, the hike from Costa Volpino to Rifugio Magnolini first passes through Valle di Supine and then along the mountain’s southwestern slopes. There are mountain huts along the way, and the route offers views of Lake Iseo.

Cycling routes along the Oglio and rides into the hinterland

The Parco avifaunistico dell’Oglio is a green space along the river, suitable for leisurely walks and sports activities. A cycle path runs through the park, coming from the locality of Bersaglio and connecting to the Ciclovia dell’Oglio. This mostly flat cycle route runs north of the lake through Val Camonica to Capo di Ponte. Alongside shorter riverside loops, there are also longer routes through the valley.

The Costa Volpino–Lago Moro route is described as a mountain-biking option. The circuit follows gravel roads and forest trails to an alpine lake; the return to the valley is along a panoramic path. Trail conditions may change, so it’s a good idea to check them before setting out. The options therefore vary not only by activity, but also by scenery and route: from the cycle path along the river to trails through forests and higher terrain.

Churches and village scenery

The church of Santo Stefano dominates the summit of the hill in Volpino. There are two described ways to reach it: a steep climb with a short flight of steps, or the more comfortable, narrow Via Sabotino, which skirts the centre. In Qualino, the church of Sant’Ambrogio stands on a broad terrace that can be reached by bus. From there, panoramic views extend across Lake Iseo and the lower Val Camonica. The church’s present-day appearance reflects extensions made in the 17th century and work carried out in 1902; parts of a 15th-century structure have been preserved. Fragments of frescoes can be seen inside.

In Branico, the church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gottardo stands at the southern edge of the village, overlooking the Oglio Valley. It preserves a 14th-century cycle of paintings. Above Ceratello, the church of San Giorgio Martire stands on a hill where a castle is thought to have once stood. Its grand staircase was built between 1937 and 1939. In Flaccanico, the church of San Matteo overlooks the village; its churchyard offers impressive views. In Corti, Sant’Antonio Abate is a notable example of contemporary religious architecture, replacing the former parish church on the hill.

Historical traces and getting there

The history of Volpino includes the castle of the Brusati family, the most significant 12th-century castle in the hamlet. A later peace treaty between Bergamo and Brescia decreed its destruction, which took place in 1198. A church dedicated to Saint Stefano within the castle is documented from 1132. The village scenery also offers glimpses of the past: Costa Volpino retains old houses with medieval-style portals and arcades. Ceratello lies at an altitude of over 800 metres in a panoramic setting and is Costa’s highest historic village centre.

Costa Volpino can be reached by bus on the Bergamo–Boario line. Check the current timetable before departure. When planning your trip, you can also choose where to stay based on whether you mainly want to explore the routes along the Oglio, hike to higher elevations, or discover the churches and local history.

Discover more destinations: Dalmine, Brumano, Sotto Il Monte Giovanni Xxiii, Torre Boldone, Carona, Trescore Balneario, Selino Basso, Foppolo.

View the main travel guide: Bergamo.