Monte Orsa
A walk on Monte Orsa enables visitors to appreciate a natural setting, with its many views of Lake Lugano, and numerous remains from the famous Cadorna Line.
Monte Orsa is a mountain offering a series of unforgettable excursions that are of great interest from the points of view of both nature and history. Walking up from the town of Viggiù, at a certain point the road becomes unmetalled, and on a corner, a yellow sign indicates the footpath to Monte Orsa (the trip takes about 45 minutes).
You can leave the car here, or continue for a short distance further ahead until you meet a lay-by at the side of the road. Nearby there is a trench that was part of the famous "Cadorna Line", with open and tunnel walkways, and many artillery posts. After visiting these fortifications, you can go back to the path that leads up to the summit of the mountain, where there is a large aerial.
The visit to the mountain itself begins here. The fortifications around Monte Orsa are laid out in a triangular plan, in which the imaginary sides of the triangle face S-N, W-E and N-S, between the heights 827 and 970 m above mean sea level. To the right of the path, you will find the entrance to the first underground section of the fortifications.
It should be remembered that visits to the underground sections of the fortifications are made at your own risk. Some of the structures are well preserved and relatively safe, while other areas are dangerous in many ways. Utmost care should therefore be taken. The local tree species are mainly chestnuts, ash and false acacia.
Monte Orsa is a mountain offering a series of unforgettable excursions that are of great interest from the points of view of both nature and history. Walking up from the town of Viggiù, at a certain point the road becomes unmetalled, and on a corner, a yellow sign indicates the footpath to Monte Orsa (the trip takes about 45 minutes).
You can leave the car here, or continue for a short distance further ahead until you meet a lay-by at the side of the road. Nearby there is a trench that was part of the famous "Cadorna Line", with open and tunnel walkways, and many artillery posts. After visiting these fortifications, you can go back to the path that leads up to the summit of the mountain, where there is a large aerial.
The visit to the mountain itself begins here. The fortifications around Monte Orsa are laid out in a triangular plan, in which the imaginary sides of the triangle face S-N, W-E and N-S, between the heights 827 and 970 m above mean sea level. To the right of the path, you will find the entrance to the first underground section of the fortifications.
It should be remembered that visits to the underground sections of the fortifications are made at your own risk. Some of the structures are well preserved and relatively safe, while other areas are dangerous in many ways. Utmost care should therefore be taken. The local tree species are mainly chestnuts, ash and false acacia.
