E1 in Lombardy


Starting Point

Porto Ceresio (275 metres above sea level[1]  -m a.s.l.) on Lake Lugano

End Point

Cornale (PV) (74 m a.s.l.) south/west border of Lombardy / Piedmont

Lenght

201,5 km approx.

Which cities and towns does the E-path pass through

Porto Ceresio, Valganna, Brinzio, Gavirate, Osmate, Sesto Calende, Golasecca, Somma Lombardo, Vizzola Ticino, Lonate Pozzolo, Nosate, Turbigo, Bernate Ticino, Boffalora sopra Ticino, Robecco sul Naviglio, Cassinetta di Lugagnano, Abbiategrasso, Morimondo, Besate, Motta Visconti, Bereguardo, Torre d'Isola, Pavia, Travacò Siccomario, Tre Re in the municipality of Cava Manara, Ticino Park.

Route

The Swiss section of the E-1 trail ends on the shore of Lake Lugano at Morcote. On the Italian side of the lake, the Lombard section of the E-1 trail starts at Porto Ceresio (railway station) and continues to the south/west border between Lombardy and Piedmont at Cornale (PV), where it leaves Lombardy and continues into Piedmont. 

The Lombardy section of the E1 trail is rich in natural, anthropic and historical/cultural environments: the piedmont section crosses paths of historical significance (trenches, Cadorna Line), but also natural environments of particular relevance; in the flat section it proceeds into the Ticino Regional Park where history and nature follow one another: the archaeological site of Golasecca, the Navigli, the Abbey of Morimondo, until reaching Pavia, a city rich in culture, continuing along the towpaths of the Po until its crossing over a historic bridge.

The initial stretch of about 54 km (from Porto Cresio to Osmate) is characterised by a series of paths that cross old cultivated fields and mixed deciduous and beech woods, leading us to discover both panoramic terraces on the plain below and paths that cross the remaining fortifications of the 'Cadorna Line', a defensive military structure built between 1915 and 1918, when it was feared that Austro-Hungarian troops could attack from this side and reach nerve centres in northern Italy, violating traditional Swiss neutrality.  

At Osmate, the E1 trail enters the Ticino Park and follows it for almost 110 km to Cava Manara. The route is marked with red-white-red signs with the initials 'E1'. The route can be tackled on foot, or even by bicycle: in the Ticino Park, the E1 trail is not a simple path, but a true 'greenway', connecting the Alps and the Apennines, along one of the most beautiful lowland river valleys. The E1 trail leaves the Ticino Park in Cava Manara at Tre Re after 109.5 Km. 

From Cava Manara to the border with Piedmont at Cornale, the trail runs along the left bank of the Po river at the edge of the alluvial valley of the river itself. As far as the municipality of Sannazzaro de'Burgundi, which dominates the alluvial valley at the edge of the terracing. It then proceeds southwards, crossing the Ponte della Gerola bridge, a characteristic bridge over the Po with iron arches, to finally reach Cornale.

Organisation(s) of reference


Publications

For the section in the Ticino Park, see the Park's website in the Vie Verdi section

Maps

For the stretch from Porto Ceresio to the beginning of the Ticino Park

KOMPASS No. 90 (Lake Maggiore - Lake Varese) 1:50,000

Marking system

In the northern and southern sections (out of f the Ticino Park)

Marking system

In the Ticino Park

Crossing other E-paths

None.

Practical

Along the Lombardy E1 route in urban sections we find the possibility of services: bars, shops, pharmacy, transport services, hotel or B&B accommodation. 

Medical Problems (NOT Emergency):  phone    116 117

Emergency (any): phone 112

Accomodation and Food

Porto Ceresio (VA)

see official site of Municipality https://www.comune.portoceresio.va.it/c012113/zf/index.php/locali-pubblici

 servizi,

Valganna (VA) 

Tourist Office : Pro loco Valganna Piazza Grandi 1 – Ganna;

B & B Villa Paradiso – Via Comolli 2 Ganna;

Boarezzo (VA)

Ristorante I Panigacci – Via g. Ghini 11;

Orino (VA

Az.Agricola I Marroni località Gaggiolo 1 tel 3289062341 –www.imarroni.it – info@imarroni.it

B & B Il Circolino Piazza XI Febbraio 13 – tel 0332630713 – lallaeandrea@gmail.com

Il Crotto Gesiola – via Gesiola 22 – tel 0332631387 – www.crottogesiola.it

BRINZIO (VA)

Locanda del Brinsc (H2stelle) Via G.Marconi 5 – tel 0332435257

GAVIRATE (VA)

Sunset Hotel (4 stars) – via al Lido 7 – tel 0332731023

B & B La Casa Rossa – Via Vignacce 24 – tel 3470826196

CADREZZATE / OSMATE (VA)

Camping Lago di Monate – via lago di Monate 497 Comabbio tel 0331968454

Brusisch 1638 – via Brusisch 1638 Comabbio – tel 3482237997

Travel

Porto Ceresio (VA) : BUS Stationm Raulway station, Taxi

Valganna (VA)Bus to Varese and Luino every hour

Gavirate (VA): BUS Station, Railway Station

Gear

The route in the initial stretch of the first 54 km from Porto Ceresio to Osmate requires trekking clothing (suitable for walking on mountain paths and dirt tracks) in the following stretch it will be sufficient to have comfortable footwear suitable for long-distance walking but without any particular technical difficulties.