Alpe Gallone and Verdina

Starting point
Ameno, hamlet of Mirabello at 520 metres a.s.l.

Point of Arrival
Alpe Gallone 760 metres a.s.l.

Period
Spring, summer, autumn, winter.

Road access
Exit for Arona from the A26 Voltri - Sempione motorway, then follow the signs for Invorio, Bolzano Novarese (turning from the road to Gozzano), Lortallo and then Ameno. Then follow the signs for the “frazioni di oltre-Agogna” (hamlets beyond Agogna), continuing on a narrow paved road. After crossing the bridge over Agogna, continue to the hamlet of Mirabello, where you can park your car.

Description of the itinerary
After parking the car, continue up the paved road, which later becomes a dirt road, passing through Mirabello, Tabarino and Cassano. Continue along the wide bends, through coniferous forests up to the ridge overlooking the valley of the River Tessera and then to the pretty chapel known as the Cappella del Vago. This last stretch is marked with the symbol “V”, indicating a route known as the Alta via del Vergante.
At the chapel, two signposts carry Italian Alpine Club signs indicating various numbered paths. Carry on along the main route marked with a “V”. After a short climb, in front of a birch forest, the road bends to the right. To reach Alpe Verdina you can choose between two options: continue along the road for another 10 minutes until you reach a big chestnut tree with a signpost for the alp, or through the birch forest and then continue by sight over large meadows and traces of paths until you reach the Verdina, with breathtaking views. For the return journey go back to the point at which it was mentioned that there are two options for reaching Alpe Verdina. Then follow path U1 - S1, with the ruins of Alpe Cascinone on your right. Past the junction with path S2, abandon the S1 path to continue on U1. The route passes through dense forests of chestnut, oak and birch trees between the various valleys sloping down towards Rio del Vago. After a short descent, you will arrive in front of an old dairy with a beautiful holly before it.
From here the path leads quickly to the hamlet of Sculera. The path continues, losing height rapidly, to the hamlet of Tacchino, from where you can quickly return to Mirabello.

Tourist information
Fondazione Calderara: Via Bardelli 9, fraz. Vacciago - 28010 Ameno
Tel. +39 0322 998192 - +39 02 76281211
www.fondazionecalderara.it
Tourist Office of Orta San Giulio: Via Panoramica - 28016
Tel. +39 0322 905163 -

DIRECTLY CONTACT THE TOURIST OFFICE OF ORTA SAN GIULIO