Day Trip: Brunate

If you are in Como, we suggest half-day excursions: short and pleasant walks.

Brunate In Funicolar

Time: About 3 hours

Itinerary: PiazzaDe Gasperi – Brunate – Faro Voltiano – baite delle Colme –

Eremo di San Donato

The itinerary begins in Piazza De Gasperi, Viale Geno, where the funicular station is located, inaugurated in 1894. You can reach Brunate in about 7 minutes, overcoming a difference in height of five hundred meters with a maximum gradient of 55%, at 715 m. high. Here it is advisable to visit the characteristic village, called the “balcony” of the Alps for its position and the wonderful view of Como, the lake, the Lombard plain, the Apennines, the Alps, the Monviso and Monte Rosa.

From the square of the funicular to Brunate we proceed through a mule track, or with a bus, towards S. Maurizio (906 m.), Where we find the magnificent public park “Marenghi” and the Voltiano lighthouse. It was built on a project by Ing. Gabriele Giussani in 1927 in memory of the centenary of the death of Alessandro Volta and it contains inside a spiral staircase of 143 steps, which allows you to reach the pitch on the top from which you can enjoy a priceless view.

From S. Maurizio, through a paved road, you reach the Capanna CAO and the Sanctuary of S. Rita (the smallest in Europe). You can also walk to the Baite delle Colme: Baita Carla, Baita Bondella, Baita Bolletto (1236 m.), Monte Bollettone (1204 m.) and Monte Palanzone (1436 m.).

The itinerary ends by returning to Como with the funicular for the lazy ones. For others it is possible to walk down two paths: the first runs along the Funicular and the second (very impressive) passes through the Hermitage of San Donato, a former convent of the XV century Benedictines. Inside there is a carved wooden altar (1500), fifteenth-century frescoes and terracotta contemporary statues.

The best season for trips and walks goes from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. The luxuriant flora and the climate, cool and temperate even during the summer, make Brunate a pleasant holiday destination.