Just above Menaggio is the beautiful the Val Sanagra park, a vast territory rich in flora, fauna and ancient rural settlements. Out of the many hiking possibilities the park offers, we suggest an easy walk, ideal with children, which follows the course of the Sanagra river. We will discover the Galli furnace, an ancient brick kiln and the Vecchia Chioderia, an ancient nail factory, now transformed into a trout farm. If you have a fishing rod, children may catch their own trout for lunch out of one of the basins.
Description
Piamuro, a big pasture, is one of the entrances to the Val Sanagra park situated only 2 km from the center of Menaggio. From Piamuro we follow the trail marker n° 4 of the Val Sanagra Park in the direction of Mulino della Valle. We skirt the field and then some woods. The cobble stone path leads up to the small Artus Chapel (read the interesting information panel). The chapel is located right on the border that divides the communes of Menaggio and Grandola and Uniti. From here the track leads down to the Sanagra river and we arrive at Mulino della Valle, a former mill.
We do not cross the beautiful bridge of very ancient origins, but we take the path that leads to the Fornace Galli, a former brick furnace. It is a good example of industrial archeology: inside the building there is a kiln and the necessary systems for processing clay using the driving force of water. The furnace was a notable production center, and many buildings in the neighboring areas – and even further away – exploited the bricks produced in Val Sanagra. The building has been recently restored and is the seat of the Val Sanagra Park. It can be visited from May until the end of September every second and last Sunday of the month.
Slightly beyond is the Vecchia Chioderia, a mill until 1820 and later, between 1943 and 1966, a nail factory. It has now been transformed into a trout farm and agritourism. We can observe the trout pools and if you have brought your fishing rod, you can ask to fish your own trout from one of the tanks for lunch.
By following the paved road that passes in front of the trout farm we can reach in approx. 15minutes the village of Codogna. Here the eighteenth-century Villa Camozzi is located which houses the Ethnographic Naturalistic Museum of Val Sanagra.
The museum preserves evidence of the history and popular traditions of the valley. Various naturalistic environments have been recreated including exhibitions of fossils and mushrooms and dioramas relating to the local fauna. There is also a documentary exhibition of the former Menaggio-Porlezza railway, a rooms dedicated to the numerous tools belonging to peasant civilizations.
Opening: from May to September: second and last Sunday of the month
From October to April every last Sunday of the month
h. 10.00-12.30 and 14.00-17.30
groups by reservation
Free admission
ADDRESS:
Grandola ed Uniti, village of Codogna
Piazza Camozzi, 2
INFORMATION: Tel. 0344 32115
www.museovalsanagra.it
Directions & Parking
Parking
Directions by car to Piamuro: From Menaggio follow the road towards Lugano. After 3 hairpin bends, take a right towards Loveno—Plesio. After 500 m, turn left towards Centro Sportivo/Villa Vigoni. At the church of San Lorenzo, turn left and after 300 m you will reach Piamuro where you can park your car.
By public transport
Take bus line C13 from Menaggio to Loveno, and get off at Madonna del Sasso bus stop. Take Via Filzi and just past the big magnolia tree go straight onto Via Cariboni. You enter the beautiful village of Loveno and just past the entrance of Villa Mylius Vigoni, you reach the church of San Lorenzo. Continue uphill to the Sports Center. From here a steep climb leads to “Piamuro”, a large pasture. (from the bus stop to reach Piamuro 30 minutes on foot)
Gallery
