Imbersago: Trails, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Explore Imbersago through its trails, literature, and religious and architectural heritage. When planning your trip, it is worth first deciding what you would like to focus on: would you like to spend time outdoors, explore literature and history, or plan your visit around a particular Sunday? The places and themes below offer different ways to do so.

Trails and Nature in Imbersago

Established in 2021, the Dante Trail is marked by signs at significant points in Imbersago and follows passages from the Divine Comedy. This way, the route combines a walk through the town with a literary theme. If you are interested in Dante’s work, it offers a clearly defined literary perspective on Imbersago.

You can explore the trails in Imbersago on foot or by bicycle. The town’s natural landscape is protected by Parco Adda Nord. Along the Parco Adda Nord – Traghetto di Imbersago route, unpaved paths run beside the Adda River and are suitable for easy outings, including for wheelchair users. On the Imbersago side of this route, a flat, easy-to-follow cycle path runs along the Adda. The specific section is therefore important when choosing your route: the options range from unpaved riverside paths to a flat cycle path on the Imbersago side.

History and Cultural Attractions

The Traghetto Leonardesco offers a peaceful crossing amid nature and history. It is documented as early as 1454. Leonardo da Vinci depicted it in a drawing in 1513, which is included in the Codex Atlanticus. The dates refer to different historical milestones: an early written record and a later pictorial depiction.

The Traghetto di Imbersago connects the Imbersago riverbank with the riverbank at Villa d’Adda. Villa Mombello, in turn, offers a glimpse into the town’s architectural history: it was built in the 17th century by the Counts Andreotti and stands on an older residence belonging to the Airoldi family, dating from the 16th century. The Filanda illustrates a different kind of change: the transition from agricultural work to manufacturing.

Santuario della Madonna del Bosco

The Santuario della Madonna del Bosco is easily reached on foot from the town center. The sanctuary houses a collection of 112 votive offerings that is open to the public. These include plaques, canvases, and cardboard pieces, most of which date from the 19th century. Here, you can encounter both a specific collection of religious objects and a record of the extended period over which they were created.

The Scala Santa leading to the sanctuary has 349 steps, which the faithful still climb on their knees today. The steps are a distinct feature of the site and should not be confused with the footpath from the town center described above. The origins of devotion at the sanctuary are linked to a reported apparition on 9 May 1617.

Mercatino dell’Antico

If you would like to plan your visit around a market date, note the schedule of the Mercatino dell’Antico: it takes place on the third Sunday of every month from February to November, except in August. The market areas are around Piazza Garibaldi and in the adjacent streets in the town center. Check the date for your chosen month before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Varenna, Cernusco Lombardone, Cassina Valsassina, Missaglia, Rovagnate, Lierna, Civate, Garlate

For the broader travel overview: Lecco.