Published on: 21 March 2013 | Last updated: 7 January 2020
The FIAB Laghi di Lombardia route ends at Sesto Calende on the border with Piemonte. This is a suggested route for anyone who wants to continue to the Lago di Mergozzo and the Lago d’Orta in neighbouring Piemonte.
The first part of the route heads towards Laveno. It’s a relatively quiet country road, which offers the possibility of a short detour to the iconic Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso perched on the cliff face over the lakeside.
Map and altitude profile
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| Distances | |
|---|---|
| Sesto Calende to Laveno (ferry to Intra) | 36 kms |
| Intra to Mergozzo | 8 kms |
| Mergozzo to Orta San Giulio | 22 kms |
At Laveno there’s a car ferry to Verbania. There’s plenty of space for bikes and the cost is 5 euros.
If you are heading eastwards simply follow the lakeside road (if you’re going eastwards you’ll need to follow my suggested route). From here there’s a brief stretch along the busier SS34 before turning off onto the Via Filippo Turati and the Lago di Mergozzo.
Just after the junction there’s the Casa della Resistenza and memorial park.
More about the park
There are several memorials in the park:
- a huge memorial wall lists the names of the more than 1250 people who died during the battle for the liberation of the surrounding area. At the foot of the cross is an urn with the ashes from the ovens of the crematorium at Mauthausen concentration camp where many captured members of the Italian resistance died;
- on the western end of the wall there’s a plaque with the names of 54 Jewish people killed around the lake in September and October 1943;
- 42 cypress trees in memory of the 42 partisans who were shot and died here (another miraculously survived);
- a memorial to the members of the Italian armed forces who, died in internment camps in German after refusing to fight for the Nazis;
- a bronze sculpture is a memorial to the Georgians who died fighting as part of the Italian resistance forces;
- the bronze hand is a memorial to the contribution of women to the resistance.
A little further down the road there’s a pink granite stone marking the border of the Repubblica Partigiana d’Ossola — when for a few brief weeks in September 1944 the area became a free republic.
Mergozzo and the Lago di Mergozzo are lovely, but if you need to press on and turn right after the town. The road rejoins the strada statale Via 42 Martiri, avoiding a stretch of out of town shops. From here there’s a brief stretch of fairly dull road to the town of Omegna at the head of the Lago d’Orta. From here it’s a short ride along the lakeside road to Orta. The Lake is on the tourist map but in a low-key way.
While you’re in Orta take the boat to the Monastero di San Giulio and don’t miss the Sacromonte d’Orta one of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sacromonti di Lombardia e Piemonte.
Options
At Verbania you could head south to Baveno and Stresa. The road is fairly busy, but there is a ciclabile. For me there were rather too many grand hotels. On the other hand, you could go north to Cannobio which for my money is quite possibly the nicest place on the lake.
Day-rides
There are some lovely roads and beautiful villages in the hills between the Lago d’Orta and the Lago Maggiore. If you are up for it there’s also the climb to Mottarone (1491m).
Connections
If you have the time, you might want to consider the Tour of the western lakes route which follows the lakes back via the Lago Maggiore, Lago Lugano to the Lago di Como.
Lago d’Orta - Isola San Giulio
More information
Places to stay
Transport and services
Articles in this series
- Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte – Overview
- Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte – Part 1
- Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte – Part 2
- Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte – Part 3
- Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte – Part 3 (variant)
- Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte- Part 4
- Lakes of Lombardia and Piemonte – Part 5
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