HOTEL VOLTA CANZO - Percorsi in bici da strada e MTB

Description: Ghisallo is the name of the most famous climb of the Triangolo Lariano, also thanks to the fact that it has been run along several times by professional cyclists during the “Giro di Lombardia”, one of most famous Italian and European bike races. The first 4 km, beginning from the delightful built-up area of Bellagio, are completely characterized by a hard slope (8-14%), then the road becomes flattish for about 3 km and the last 1,5 km return to be a climb, until the famous Sanctuary called “Madonna del Ghisallo” in locality Magreglio. The total difference in height is about 500 meters and the higher point is at 754 m AMSL. If we consider exclusively the first 4 km of the climb, the average slope, is about 9% and the maximum slope is 14%; while if we consider the whole climb (Bellagio – Madonna del Ghisallo) the medium slope is about 5,5%. The big number of hairpin curves you’ll find adds fascination to this mythical road. Besides the climb is completely dipped in the woods and there’s really not much automotive traffic, so you can breathe some good air and you won’t suffer for the heat during summer time.

Road book: Leaving from the Hotel Volta you have to initially head for the centre of Canzo, in northern direction. Then you have to keep going on following the main road that covers the whole Valassina, until the crossroad for Valbrona. Here it is necessary to abandon the main road turning on the right, towards Valbrona. When you’ll arrive in this town, moreover point of arrival of an other extraordinary climb described in these pages (the Onno), it is necessary to keep going straight on and soon the road will become a descent that, shortly time, will lead you to Onno and the shores of Como Lake. When you’ll meet the road that goes on along the shores of the lake, connecting Lecco with Bellagio, it is necessary to turn on the left, towards the latter locality. The coastal road goes on alternating plans and little climbs, the last one of which leads to Visgnola, a Bellagio hamlet. Here you have the possibility to have a little stop in order to visit the charming small village of Bellagio, “the pearl of Lario” (keep in mind that in this case it is necessary to turn on the right and cover a short descent, which you’ll have to cover again in climb when you turn back). Instead, if you don’t want to go to the centre of Bellagio, you’ll have to turn left and the rise to the “Madonna del Ghisallo” begins. The top of the climb is situated in Magreglio where it is possible to stop and to enjoy the spectacular view and visit the mythical Sanctuary of the “Madonna del Ghisallo” and the new Museum of the Cycling, opened in the year 2006. The way back home does not present particular difficulties, in fact the road goes on alternating flattish parts to descents and, covering the entire Valassina Valley, it will bring you back to Canzo.

Regarding the climb, there’s a possible more difficult variant, that is famous as “Superghisallo”. In this case the climb begins from Bellagio too and follows the same road detailed above until the locality called “Guello”, where the flattish part of Ghisallo begins. Here, if you want to face the “Superghisallo”, you have to leave the main road turning on the right (in correspondence of a little chapel) following the indications for Mount Saint Primo and Piano Rancio. The climb continues for 4- 5 km until 969 m AMSL, in locality Piano Rancio. At the crossroad you have to turn to the left and after some kilometres of descent you’ll reach the Sanctuary of the “Madonna del Ghisallo.