Four steps in the history of Valbrona
Amid nature, legends and rural life, we set out to discover the places and relics left behind from the past.
5 km long and with a total elevation gain of 300 m, this extraordinary itinerary, which starts from the hamlet founded by the Benedictine monks, Maisano di Valbrona, will allow you to walk the paths of time.
Already in the mountain pasture village of Alpe di Monte you will be able to glimpse and breathe life in the early 1900s, when, to make butter, they would fill the icebox with snow and beech leaves so as to cool the milk and then spann it. You will also be able to dive back into the 16th century and discover the tomb of the beautiful young Stephen, a woman with a masculine name who was accused of witchcraft because she was able to have more luxuriant crops than the valley farmers.
You will still be traveling back in time, and when you see excavated tombs here and there, you will know that they are called avelli boulders, that is, large erratic boulders dating back to the Ice Age that are still an archaeological mystery, both in terms of their dating and their cultural location. Over time, these burials were transformed into fountains and watering holes for herds. Starting from the locality of Valbrona, known as the Valley of the Springs, and more precisely from Via alla Fontana, you will reach, then, the fountain of San Carlo. This fountain has some peculiarities: it is made up of several avelli boulders, the last of which is used as a drinking trough, it is fed by a small fountain, and at one time the nearby washhouse was a real meeting place for all the inhabitants of the village. You will explore the spirituality of the hamlet as soon as you start the path, you will arrive at the Chapel of the Holy Family. From here, you will take the path to the left that goes among mulberry trees, evidence of the ancient tradition of silk-making in Maisano. You will continue uphill and encounter another small frescoed chapel: the Chapel of the Second Trinity. Continuing further you will arrive at the "Cuatorta" picnic area, where you will find barbecue grills and quiet greenery.
Proceeding from the picnic area to the left, you will see the Grigne massif silhouetted against the sky. You will arrive at a cottage in Rogorea, where you will find a beautiful meadow interrupted by large granite slabs 2 to 3 meters long: the "witch's stones." These slabs, arranged in the shape of a cross, form the mound of young Stephen, who was killed for witchcraft during the witch hunt. Following CAI trail number 14 you will come to a cultivated chestnut grove, and you can choose to continue on trail 14 or go straight on local trail No. 10, which will take you to Prezzapino. Here you will find two linden trees at least 200 years old in front of the hut, stealing the show. You will enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains, such as Resegone, Moregallo and Corni di Canzo.
Proceeding on local trail No. 12, in just 10 minutes, you will arrive at the hamlet of Alpe di Monte, where livestock farming was once practiced and wheat, potatoes and corn were grown. Here you will encounter a large nevèra, filled with snow during the winter so that butter could be kneaded even in the spring and summer, when the cool environment did not allow the milk cream to whip. The melted snow was then used to keep the cheese cool. Not much food was stored, just enough to survive. Behind the alp you will find a fountain built from an avello boulder and a washhouse on the ground, and further on a large granite erratic boulder.
In Maisano di Valbrona you will meet the Madonnina del castagno at a cottage along the way. You can decide whether to continue the walk to the Crezzo pond from Alpe di Monte following the "Cycling in the Triangolo Lariano" trail or continue the descent until you pass the San Carlo fountain to the last stop on the route: the Oratory of San Rocco, a jewel of sacredness and art with its ornate wooden trusses.
