What
it lacks in size, the Tempietto di San Fedelino more than makes up for in charm
as one of the most stunning places to visit in the province of Sondrio and one
of the most treasured examples of Romanesque art in Lombardy.
Start
your walk to the little temple of San Fedelino from the church of S. Giovanni,
which you can reach by car from Era (next to Samolaco) or from Novate Mezzola
along Via Trivulzia.
The
path is well signposted, leading you first over a small bridge, detouring
around some cultivated fields, then joining the edge of the River Mera to
follow its wide, flat banks. When you reach a stone set of stairs (option to
head to Alpe Teolo from here), keep left and follow the lower path to reach the
idyllic, grassy riverside clearing that’s home to San Fedelino.
A few hundred metres from the
church, you’ll stumble upon a paradisal lakeside cove. A beautiful, secluded
spot with a little jetty, special boat trips can be booked in advance
(Telephone Gianni T: + 39 333 7807686).
Extend the walk by adding Dascio
as your destination. Climbing up from the small temple, you’ll quickly reach a stunning visewpoint followed by a junction of trails, including the via
Francisca path. Turn left (otherwise you’ll return to where you started from by
going right) and keep climbing through the picture-book chestnut trees. You’ll
be traversing the lakeside, but sticking high above it so the views will be
extraordinary. As an official observation spot for the Pian di Spagna nature
reserve, the Sasso di Dascio viewpoint offers some of the best views on the
whole walk.
Start: church of San Giovanni (200 m) reachable by car from Era-Samolaco, or from Novate Mezzola through via Trivulzia.
Finish: Dascio (208 m)
Duration: 1h30m from S. Giovanni to San Fedelino | 2h from San Fedelino to Dascio
Difficulty: touristic
Per maggiori informazioni contattare l'InfoPoint di Chiavenna: www.valchiavenna.com | tel. 0343 37485
ph. Enrico Minotti