montecrestese and its districts (upper ring)

WARNING: trekking is not like walking! If you can't overcome a passage, go back!
Some of the tracks presented here are set along mountain trails where some passages may require holding to ropes or climbing short ladders, and may have exposed passages without safety protections. These tracts can be a serious danger if faced without the right equipment, awareness and physical condition.
ITINERARIUM® has no responsibility regarding the tracks presented here, their dangerousness, accessibility, praticability and safety. Who decides to take these tracks does it at their own risk.

CHIESA - LOMESE - VEGLIO - ALPE GROPPALLO - ALTOGGIO - NAVILEDO - ALTENO

Val D'Ossola - Valle Isorno/Valle Agarina

Download GPX track

Length:
7.9 Km

Our time:
2h45' walking

Total climb:
540 mt

Min and max height:
410 mt - 830 mt

Type of track:
ring track

Surface:
mule track - trail - steps

Panorama:
vineyards - ancient towns

Cell network coverage:
partial

Traced in winter:
no

Traced by bike:
no

The name Montecrestese means “the mountain made of rocks growing like crests”, meaning it's a group of rocky spikes, positioned on a large area, where many small villages with ancient stone architectures are born. The trail discovers the most peculiar districts, following old mule tracks that cross blooming fields, woods and vineyards, where the Prünent variety is grown still today, with the “a topie” (pergola) technique.
What to visit along the trail:
Chiesa, with the second tallest steeple of Ossola, 67.5 meters high.
Lomese, with its small castle built around a courtyard.
Chezzo, with its buildings characterized by “astrigo” (a pozzolana for brick floors) and by their outer stone stairs.
Veglio, with its name full of history: the town grows on a rocky spike dominating the Toce valley and it watches (from Italian word “veglia”) the Antigorio and Divedro valleys. A little faraway from the village there are the remains of Veglio’s castle.
Altoggio with its tripartite wash house, made by a fountain, a drinking trough and a wash house. A little faraway from the village there is the Diavolo bridge, crossing the Isorno to connect Navone and Larecchio alps.
Naviledo with its mule track that crosses, with vaults passages, some houses.
Each district has connections with nearby towns, so it’s easy to plan variations to this track.