Montevecchia: Trails and Sacred Art

The routes vary in landscape, course and purpose: one trail is hilly and mostly wooded, another is steep and runs through terraced farmland; the geological nature trail is about 13 kilometres long. Churches and chapels also offer different points of interest, from the Stations of the Cross to frescoes. First consider whether you would like to include a particular type of trail, geological themes or sacred art in your travel plans.

Trails and landscape

Sentiero n. 9 is hilly and runs mostly through wooded areas within the Valle Santa Croce and Alta Valle del Curone Nature Reserve. Sentiero del Parco n. 9 connects Montevecchia with Missaglia. These details let you consider both the character of the landscape and the route: the first describes the trail within the nature reserve, while the second names the connection between two towns.

Sentiero dell’Oliva is a steep mule track that runs through terraced farmland and leads to Piazza di Montevecchia. Its historic passage was restored in 2011 and is surfaced with paving stones or stone, with dry-stone walls. The two trails have different points of focus: Sentiero n. 9 features hilly terrain and wooded areas in the nature reserve, while Sentiero dell’Oliva is defined by its gradient, terraces and historic route. Their destinations also help you plan: Sentiero dell’Oliva leads to Piazza di Montevecchia, while Sentiero del Parco n. 9 connects Montevecchia with Missaglia. You can weigh the landscape and route separately.

The geological nature trail adds a distinct thematic focus to the selection. It is equipped for educational activities and is about 13 kilometres long. Its approximate length gives you a concrete point of reference for planning, while its facilities indicate the trail’s educational purpose. If geological themes are important to you, you can take these two features into account when considering this trail.

Sacred places and art

The approach to the Santuario della Beata Vergine del Carmelo passes recently restored 18th-century chapels depicting the Stations of the Cross. The Chiesetta di San Bernardo contains numerous valuable frescoes that have recently been restored. The two places offer different points of reference for sacred art: the chapels shape the route to the Santuario, while the frescoes take centre stage inside San Bernardo.

The Church of San Giovanni Battista in the hamlet of Piazza is also a distinct historic landmark: it was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. This dedication highlights an aspect different from the Stations of the Cross and the frescoes, complementing the various cultural themes you can consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Pasturo, Suello, Torre De' Busi, Arlate, Cremeno, Rovagnate, Cernusco Lombardone, Varenna

For the broader travel overview: Lecco.