The ancient Strada Regina

The Antica Strada Regina, which wound on the western shore of the lake, connected Como to the Alpine passes. The layout of this Roman royal road ran along the shore, sometimes coinciding and often parallel to the current road. Here we follow a well-preserved stretch of the ancient road, which leads from Nobiallo (a hamlet of Menaggio) with wonderful views of the lake and the mountains, to the historic center of Rezzonico. In Rezzonico there is one of the rare well-preserved fortifications of the lake.

  • Starting point for the walk: Menaggio
  • Itinerary: Menaggio – Nobiallo – Sasso – Rancio – Acquaseria – Molvedo – Santa Maria – Rezzonico
  • Return from Rezzonico by bus line C10
  • Duration of the walk: 3.00 hours
  • Difference in altitude: 150 m
  • Signs: some wooden signs “Path of the Jubilee 2000”

Path
From Piazza Garibaldi follow the lakeside to the Lido and then continue along Via Roma. After approx. 50 m, take Via Cipressi on the right which, after passing the entrance to the Europa campsite, comes out on the road that you follow along the sidewalk to the right.

At the entrance to the tunnel, take the pedestrian street on the right, passing through the rock gym. Reached the state road again, cross to continue on the sidewalk until you take the road that goes up to the police station.

From here, follow the signs for the Vecchia Strada Regina. You enter the town of Nobiallo by skirting the church of San Bartolomeo and San Nicolao with its 13th century leaning Romanesque bell tower. Continuing on the Ancient Queen you will come across the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Pace from 1660, where a simulacrum is venerated which, in 1558, shed tears. Here begins the steps leading to the slopes of Sasso Rancio where, in the 18th and 19th centuries, there were iron mines. It climbs up to 350 m.

You pass over Villa la Gaeta which was built in the 1920s. You pass a “very modern residence” and continue straight on the cobblestones that descend steeply, coming out on a stretch of disused state road, after the opening of a tunnel. Turning left you reach the outlet of the tunnel itself, from here proceed with caution for approx. 100 m on the edge of the state road and at the height of the following tunnel, take the disused road on the right.

Thirty meters later, take the dirt road on the left that rises above the entrance portal to the tunnel and continue into the woods. The first houses you meet are those of Acquaseria. Cross the bridge over the Serio river and enter the town. Once in front of the church of S. Abbondio, continue along its right side. Go along via Regina Margherita and at the end of the town, at a crossroads, turn right (on the left the road goes up to Pezzo).

The small road becomes a cobblestone road that leads to the town of Molvedo. In Molvedo the route is interrupted by the park of the Villa Camilla. To get around it, go up to Mastena. At the end of the cobblestones that connect Acquaseria with Molvedo, at the height of an old Enel cabin, take the mule track on the left. Once in the town of Mastena, turn right and cross the center. Once you reach the Cellino stream, go down the mule track to the right, crossing the asphalted road twice. At the end of the mule track, turn left to get to an oratory. We recommend a small detour to the lake to admire the church of Santa Maria (1464) and the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress.

Returning to the oratory, the old route resumes. After passing the carriage road to the upper hamlets of Santa Maria, continue on the Antica Strada between small fields and wall borders. Before reaching Rezzonico, pass on the right the “Castellaccio” which is what remains of a low medieval tower. The area is equipped with a fountain and picnic tables. The cobblestones descend to the town of Rezzonico and come out on the disused state road that you cross to head towards the lake where the picturesque pier is located.

Passed under the arcades, go up the staircase and arrive at the castle. It is one of the rare well-preserved fortifications of the lake with a high 14th-century merlons tower and part of the walls that served as a fence, where locals could gather in case of danger. From the castle, head towards the state road where the bus stop is located.