The itinerary starts from the Verbania Intra pier. Follow the lakeside promenade northwards and just before the San Giovanni stream, cross the main road and take Via Brigata Cesare Battisti which leads to the cycle-pedestrian bridge. After crossing the stream, take Via Selasca, a beautiful internal road with limited traffic that runs alongside the parks of large villas and leads to Selasca. After crossing a stone bridge, take the mule track that begins to climb with alternating stretches on asphalt, until it crosses the carriage road that leads to Susello (Corso Dante Alighieri). Take the mule track from Susello that goes up to Ceredo, where a wide, almost flat path that soon becomes a dirt track starts at the Oratory, reaching the Sacro Monte di Ghiffa. After a visit to the monumental complex the path continues and descends to the small village of Deccio. From here the path begins to climb in the thick wood and then descends again to Novaglio. Continue for a short stretch on the carriage road then take the old mule track that cuts through the hairpin bends and descends to Camogno. The path continues on level ground along beautiful internal lanes as far as Cadevecchio, arriving at a car park at the top of the village. From here you continue following the carriage road that goes up to Travallino. Shortly before, a junction indicates the possibility to descend to Pieggio, Spasolo and the tourist port of Oggebbio. From Travallino continue along the carriage road (Strada Antonio Manzi) skirting a cemetery until you reach Gonte, seat of the Municipality of Oggebbio. Continue along the Strada Panoramica (Panoramic Road) crossing the beautiful centre of Cadessino with the oratory of Santa Maria or Madonna della Misericordia, built between the 13th and 14th century on the site of a pre-existing 11th century church of which the bell tower remains. Following the road, you reach Barbé Superiore which you cross to visit the oratory dedicated to Saint Bernard of Menton and then re-join the carriage road at a hairpin bend. Here you take the stepped path that becomes a beautiful mule track that goes down to cross the stream with a nice stone bridge and goes up to Ponte, the first hamlet of Cannero Riviera. From the car park follow the carriage road and you will soon reach Cassino. The path starts from the small central square and climbs steeply with hairpin bends to the hamlet of Donego from where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view. After crossing the whole village, you take the beautiful, paved mule track that gradually descends towards Cannero. Once you have reached the main road, it is best to cross it and take the little side streets skirting the town hall. You go back up to cross the stream on the pedestrian bridge and then descend along the narrow streets of the village to the port of Cannero.

Bell tower of the Basilica of San Vittore (Intra). Basilica Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità of Ghiffa. The Sacro Monte di Ghiffa (sacred mountain) together with the other Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. It is a Baroque style building, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, immersed in a magnificent natural environment and dense forests. Cannero Riviera has the typical characteristics of Mediterranean coastal resorts: the natural inlet that shelters from the cold winds and the sunny position favours the growth of lush vegetation, rich in cedar, lemon, olive and orange trees, palms, azaleas, rhododendrons and highly renowned camellias. The village has been awarded an Orange Flag by Touring Club Italiano.

From Sacro Monte di Ghiffa it is possible to go down to the port of Ghiffa in 25 minutes. From Cadevecchio it is possible to go down to the port of Oggebbio in 10 minutes. For boat timetables see www.navigazionelaghi.it

Verbania Intra can be reached on the A26 Motorway. Take the Verbania Exit, then SS 34 del Lago Maggiore

Source: Unione del Lago Maggiore
Itinerary code: VGE
Recommended period: All year round
Historical interest: Yes
Devotional interest: Yes
Access by public transport: Yes
Classification: Medium and low mountain provincial
Provinces crossed: Distretto dei Laghi

The train station is Verbania Pallanza. From the station there are buses to Intra, Cannero, Cannobio, State border (for timetables see www.vcotrasporti.it). The same line is used for the return journey. There is also a navigation service in the ports of Intra, Ghiffa, Oggebbio, Cannero and Cannobio with the possibility of returning by boat (for boat timetables see www.navigazionelaghi.it).