This stage leads from the valley of Menaggio to the valley of Albano, passing through the saddle of San Bernardo, offering wonderful panoramic views of the Lario. It is possible to take the bus from Menaggio to Breglia (line C13 Menaggio Plesio) thus shortening this long stage by 2 hours.
Grandola ed Uniti (385 m). Grandola ed Uniti can be reached by bus (line C12). You get off at the bus stop "Bivio per Naggio" and you take the road that leads towards the hamlets (Via Carlo Galbiati). At the junction turn left and continue on the asphalted road (there are some shortcuts) until Codogna (479 m 0.15 hours). You will reach the Villa Camozzi, built in the 18th century, now seat of the municipality and of the Ethnographic and Naturalistic Museum of Val Sanagra. At the height of the villa, near the parking lot, follow the signs to the right for the farmhouse La Vecchia Chioderia located on the Sanagra river. As soon as you cross the bridge you reach the farmhouse with the trout farm, from which you take the mule track to the left and then immediately follow to the right a steep path that climbs in hairpin bends to the village of Barna (563 m hrs 0.35; 0.50). Paying attention to the signs on the houses, you reach the beautiful church square, with a fountain with four spouts. You pass in front of the church and continue on the left. On a steep mule-track you leave the village to enter the wood, passing a beautiful fountain with three arches.
The mule track stops and you continue on a path in the wood a bit disconnected to come out on a dirt road near a house, where you turn left. In short you reach La Piazza (747 m hrs 0,30 ; 1,20), a wide grassy saddle. The "VIA" opens up near the small Bergum chapel on a carriage road that is followed for a short stretch on the left, then deviates into a lane on the right. (The red barred 3 is the indication for "Il sentiero delle 4 Valli", another wonderful three-day route that for a short stretch follows the same itinerary).
At the next crossroads keep to the left and, along a path with ups and downs, reach a stream at the source of the Chiarella water. After crossing the small bridge, you will soon reach the village of Breglia (749 m, 0.40 hours; 2.00 hours) - a restaurant-hotel-bus stop on the C13 line.
N.B. For those who begin this stretch of the Via dei Monti Lariani in Breglia: from the bus stop, go past the church of S. Gregorio to the end of the parking lot of Breglia. Go up on the left the road to Carcente that passes among the houses and reaches a nice little square. Here take the little street on the right above the fountain.
Leaving the village along an easy path, you enter the chestnut wood and go down in hairpin bends in the Greno Valley. Cross the bridge and continue uphill to Carcente, a nice village in a panoramic position. In the middle of the village is the Museum "Casa Rurale di Carcente", open by appointment tel. 345 2461159.
Attention! In the middle of the village, take the paved mule track on the left that, winding through a chestnut grove, leads to Monti di Carcente (847 m 1.20 hours; 3.20) and from here to Monti di Treccione; Then, through degrading meadows from which one can admire the Alpi Lepontine, the High Lake and the branch of Lecco, one arrives at the ample terrace of Montuglio (950 m) (road for the descent to San Siro - 1.30 hours).
From this point, the path, with alternating ups and downs, after passing Val Vezzedo, touches the pastures of Luina and then the beautiful Monti di Bracco (1,060 m 1.00 hours; 4.20 hours). (From here there is the possibility to descend to Cremia - 1.45 hours). Then you reach the church of S. Domenico, from which you quickly reach the overhanging location Piazzucco. (From this place it is possible to reach in about 1 hour the refuge La Canua 1.520 m). Crossed with some difficulty the rough and stony Val Quaradella, you reach the beautiful pine forest that hosts the Monti di Naro (1.190 m 0.50 ; 5.10). From the fountain located between the mountain huts, we start towards the track that first goes up a grassy basin, then continues on the coast, offering a wide view, up to the Alpe N'Alcim (1,200 m). Shortly after, you reach the highest elevation of this section 1,250 meters, near Val Grande.
From here the path gradually descends and, keeping to the right, you pass the villages of Adacca and Scireso and through meadows you follow the line of the cable car up to Brecchio and you finally arrive at the highest waterfalls of Labbio (1,020 m 1.50 hours ; 7.00). Leaving Labbio, follow a marked path up to the sella di San Bernardo (1,105 m 0.25 ; 7.25 hours) in front of the Sasso di Musso.
The little mouth overlooked by the little church of the same name opens the horizon on the Albano valley. We keep to the left passing near the church ignoring the path that descends to the right. The environment is wild and rich in natural attractions and landscapes, the vegetation is represented by shrubs and sparse pasture. The descent into the valley of Albano takes place through steep meadows and frequent small valleys on the north side of Monte Bregagno and leads to the large village of Piazze (800 m, 0.35 hours; 8.00 am). Just at the beginning of the village turn right to go down towards the recently built road that leads in hairpin bends to the bridge over the Albano river, and then up to Catasco (620 m).
From here follow the mule track (via per Garzeno), crossing the carriage road several times, until you reach Garzeno (662 m hrs. 1,00 ; 9,00). Refreshments - hotels - bus stop (line C17 Dongo-Garzeno).
Grandole e Uniti can be reached by bus starting from Como through the line C10 to Menaggio, once arrived at the terminus continue the journey through the line C12 to Dasio. Continue on foot to Grandole e Uniti.
Grandola ed Uniti, CO, Italia