Monte Garzirola, from Dasio

Access

Highway for Como-Chiasso. Como Nord exit. Follow the signs for Menaggio taking the SS340 (statale regina) that runs along the lake. In Menaggio, before a tunnel but still on the SS340, follow signs for Porlezza, Lugano. After 8 km turn right towards Val Cavargna and Carlazzo. From Carlazzo continue towards Val di Rezzo. At the Val Rezzo sign, after the hairpin bend, continue for a few hundred metres to the hamlet of Dasio, where it is possible to park on the left on a short clearing near a pool with running water.

Description

From the hamlet of Dasio, immediately to the left, there are signs for the Garzirola hut at the entrance to a comfortable mule track, which is paved in places and dirt in others. After about half an hour's walk with a fairly constant gradient, amidst beech woods and sparse birch trees, you arrive at a beautiful little stone church located on a level clearing. Continue through the beech forest and at the next signpost for the Rifugio Garzirola, turn left. After about ten minutes, at a hairpin bend where you turn right above the forest, you will find signs for the San Lucio pass (1542 m), which you will reach in a few minutes.
At the pass, you can admire the Romanesque oratory of the same name, which is very beautiful and characteristic, and is flanked by two huts located a few hundred metres apart, one on Italian territory and the other on Swiss territory. Nearby there are also several Swiss signposts with indications that are rather different from the Italian ones, but certainly more realistic if the excursion is made in winter.
From the pass, the cross of Mount Garzirola can be clearly seen, which will be reached without an obligatory route, first by overcoming the numerous bumps, then by following the boundary stones and old fences, and finally by following the rocky ridge under which the Garzirola refuge is located. The summit with a large cross at an altitude of 2075 metres is actually the antecima. The actual summit (2116 m) is located further north and can be reached via easy bumps.
Both the Garzirola Hut (1975 m) and the San Lucio Hut (1545 m) are former military barracks of the Guardia di Finanza on the Italian-Swiss border.
From the summit, there is a beautiful panorama of Lake Lugano. The view sweeps from the Larian Triangle to the Grigne, from the Badile to the Ticino mountains, as well as the peaks of the Cavargna valley, among which the Pizzo di Gino stands out; further away, the Bregagno ridge and Monte Grona are visible. To the south, the rocky Denti della Vecchia are recognisable and in the distance the mountains of Tremezzo.
The return journey follows the same route as the ascent.

Warning
In the Val di Rezzo, the road narrows to a single lane. Take care especially on the return journey, as you may cross other cars.

General information

Way:from Dasio
Signposts: -
Type of route:a/r
Recommended period: December, January, February
Sun exposure: south
Water:at the start, after 30' beside the little church, at the San Lucio Pass