San Fedele Intelvi: Churches, Art and Trails

San Fedele Intelvi offers a range of starting points for planning your trip, from art and churches to routes leading to destinations in the Valle Intelvi. In the village of San Fedele, the Percorso dei Totem Poetici in Centro Valle Intelvi is a circular route with five stops of historical, poetic and scenic significance. Wooden totems, created by wood sculptor Luca Galli “Verna”, stand outdoors along the route. The stops provide a cultural focus, while the churches complement the theme with architecture and sacred art.

Art, Churches and Local History

The facade of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate is made of neatly cut, well-fitted local natural stone. The original Romanesque church of Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate was built in the second half of the 12th century. In the village of San Fedele Superiore stands the small 18th-century Oratorio di Santa Liberata. Its gabled facade dates from the 19th century; the oratory houses an altarpiece of the Immaculate Conception by Carlo Carloni. Chiesa di San Rocco also contains a cycle of monochrome frescoes from the late 18th century.

Erbonne, too, has its own historical story. The Piccolo Museo della Guardia di Finanza e del Contrabbando opened there on 23 June 2002. Erbonne is a village in San Fedele Intelvi, in the Province of Como. The museum displays memorabilia relating to the history of the Guardia di Finanza and smuggling in this area. You can view it from outside through a glass panel at the entrance and through side windows. Check the visiting arrangements before you travel.

Trails and Destinations

The former fitness trail is associated with Casa Vacanze and Centro Valle Intelvi, in the village of San Fedele, and consists of two loops that join at one point to form a shared section. The exercise equipment has been removed from the route; check the current situation before visiting. Another route follows the mule track to Erbonne: it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the village. Along the way are nevere, once used to store food, as well as old rural stone houses. This time estimate is approximate and may vary depending on conditions and your pace.

An easy trail of about an hour leads from Pian delle Alpi to Monte San Zeno. The small church on the mountain was already a pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages. You can drive to Pian delle Alpi from Piazza G. B. Carminati in San Fedele, via Casasco and the road towards Erbonne. Check local road conditions.

A walking trail to Grotta dell’Orso starts at Orimento. From June to September, visitors can leave their car in San Fedele or Casasco, take the shuttle to Orimento and then continue on foot to the grotto. Check seasonal shuttle information before travelling.

Planning and Getting There

For holiday planning in Centro Valle Intelvi, the Centro Valle Intelvi tourist office provides information, maps and recommendations. Check opening details seasonally. The Valle Intelvi is served by scheduled buses from the FFSS and Ferrovie-Nord railway stations in Como; check timetables before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Breglia, Zelbio, Livo, Albese Con Cassano, Pognana Lario, Uggiate-Trevano, Cerano D'intelvi, Albonico.

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