Direttissima or pilgrim path?

Brissago's stuck to the slope. In this sense, every hike is a distinctly vertical affair. The innumerable staircases are a deterrent to first hearsay. wrongly: firstly, climbing stairs is one of the healthiest ways of getting around - gentle on joints and strengthening muscles - and secondly, the staircases in Ticino are anything but boring. Wide granite steps alternate with ancient stone steps, interrupted by winding pedestals, romantic little bridges and narrow mule tracks. You never get bored, and you hardly notice the effort.

Direttissima

15 - 20 Minutes

On the "Direttissima" from Brissago Porta to the lake shore there are 840 steps. Don't worry - see my remarks above. You need about 15 minutes for the descent and 5 -10 minutes longer for the ascent.

Through the Sacro Monte Valley

30 - 40 Minutes

This path leads from Porta first a little down the road or some stairs and then turning right into the wild romantic valley. Either (red dotted line on the map) you walk along the - not used - narrow road, along the big representation of the Crucifixion of Christ over the stone bridges, and then further down the beautiful Way of the Cross into the village, or you take (red drawn out line) the somewhat lower path over a pedestrian suspension bridge and walk closely along the mountain stream alongside mighty rocks covered with moss down into the valley. In any case, you arrive straight at the red town hall of Brissago on the main road.

The hiking trail through the wild valley of Sacro Monte with the pilgrimage church Madonna del Sacro Monte is an experience in any case. Unfortunately, the church is closed on practically all days - a cultural disaster, especially as a closed church is not a church at all! Probably nobody is willing to open the door on a daily basis. The fact that there are no immediate neighbours who could take over this task is a real handicap. The beautiful pilgrimage church is enthroned on a huge rock in the valley, far above the torrential mountain stream. A Way of the Cross leads to the church with the stations, which the artist Roberto Pasotti provided with very expressive, gripping and emotional pictures of Jesus' suffering in 1999-2000. The key to the church can be obtained from the Brissago parish office (Tel. 091 793 14 58).