Valganna by bike (Nature and history: from Ganna to Lavena Ponte Tresa)
Twelve kilometres separate the Badia di Ganna from the town of Lavena Ponte Tresa. A fairly easy route leading to the discovery of a valley dotted with lakes, rivers, green hills and interesting historical buildings.
The cycle path that connects Ganna with Lavena Ponte Tresa provides an excellent excuse to visit the green Valganna valley, which is rich in nature and buildings of significant historical and artistic interest.
The path starts from Ganna, where the Badia di San Gemolo stands. It was built towards the end of the eleventh century and dedicated to the saint, who, according to the legend, was slain a short distance away by predators while crossing the Prealps, headed for Rome on his pilgrimage from Northern Europe. The abbey, which served as a monastery until the sixteenth century, still preserves its characteristic pentagonal cloistered court.
A couple of kilometres further on cyclists reach Lake Ghirla, a picturesque naturalistic oasis, and from here continue towards the homonym Maglio (Maul), one of the oldest and best preserved in the whole of the province. Equipped with three wheels, it dates back to the eighteenth century and was still operational until a few years ago, before being purchased by the Association of the mountain municipalities of Valganna and Valmarchirolo. Today it has been turned into a multi-purpose venue for exhibitions and conferences and is often the destination for educational visits.
This interesting example of industrial archaeology introduces cyclists to the discovery of another interesting sign of the area's economic history: the former tramway which, in the first half of the twentieth century, connected Varese with Ponte Tresa and which today lends a few kilometres of its route to the cycle path. A number of stations in the art nouveau style still stand along the way.
A short stretch further and it is nature once again that charms cyclists, who encounter the Parco dell'Argentera in Cadegliano Viconago, a lush green area abounding in streams, small waterfalls, majestic trees and frescoed watermills.
The route then rejoins the former tramway once again to reach Lavena Ponte Tresa, a lively town on the border with Switzerland, twelve kilometres from the start.
The route alternates between protected stretches with facilities and others on local, low-traffic roads. It is fairly flat, except for a descent of just over four kilometres (towards Lavena Ponte Tresa).
The cycle path that connects Ganna with Lavena Ponte Tresa provides an excellent excuse to visit the green Valganna valley, which is rich in nature and buildings of significant historical and artistic interest.
The path starts from Ganna, where the Badia di San Gemolo stands. It was built towards the end of the eleventh century and dedicated to the saint, who, according to the legend, was slain a short distance away by predators while crossing the Prealps, headed for Rome on his pilgrimage from Northern Europe. The abbey, which served as a monastery until the sixteenth century, still preserves its characteristic pentagonal cloistered court.
A couple of kilometres further on cyclists reach Lake Ghirla, a picturesque naturalistic oasis, and from here continue towards the homonym Maglio (Maul), one of the oldest and best preserved in the whole of the province. Equipped with three wheels, it dates back to the eighteenth century and was still operational until a few years ago, before being purchased by the Association of the mountain municipalities of Valganna and Valmarchirolo. Today it has been turned into a multi-purpose venue for exhibitions and conferences and is often the destination for educational visits.
This interesting example of industrial archaeology introduces cyclists to the discovery of another interesting sign of the area's economic history: the former tramway which, in the first half of the twentieth century, connected Varese with Ponte Tresa and which today lends a few kilometres of its route to the cycle path. A number of stations in the art nouveau style still stand along the way.
A short stretch further and it is nature once again that charms cyclists, who encounter the Parco dell'Argentera in Cadegliano Viconago, a lush green area abounding in streams, small waterfalls, majestic trees and frescoed watermills.
The route then rejoins the former tramway once again to reach Lavena Ponte Tresa, a lively town on the border with Switzerland, twelve kilometres from the start.
The route alternates between protected stretches with facilities and others on local, low-traffic roads. It is fairly flat, except for a descent of just over four kilometres (towards Lavena Ponte Tresa).
