Discover Cusino: Churches, Mountain Landscape and Hiking Trails

Cusino between Val Cavargna and Monte Pidaggia

Cusino lies in a hollow at the foot of Monte Pidaggia and at the beginning of Val Cavargna. South of the village rises Monte Pidaggia, reaching 1,528 metres; its rocky spur, Sasso di Cusino, reaches 1,325 metres. Monte Pidaggia has a steep northeastern slope covered with beech trees. From there, panoramic views extend across the whole of Val Cavargna as well as the lakes of Piano and Lugano. For planning your trip, the location of Cusino and the mountain landscape of Monte Pidaggia therefore stand on an equal footing.

Churches, Frescoes and Oratories of Cusino

In the centre of Cusino, next to the town hall, stands the Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Giovanni Battista, which preserves a valuable collection of paintings and frescoes. The Parrocchiale della Natività di San Giovanni Battista is a single-nave church with side chapels; historical records about it date back to 1300. The church was originally dedicated to Saint James. In the 16th century, it was extensively rebuilt, incorporating the adjoining Chapel of San Giovanni Battista. Its walls are decorated with numerous transferred frescoes from the nearby bell tower and from other houses in the village.

Sant’Ambrogio and the Oratorio di Maria Ausiliatrice

Sant’Ambrogio is a single-nave oratory with an apse on a hill near the provincial road from Carlazzo to Cusino. The building preserves Romanesque architectural elements as well as a stone relief of Christ dating from the 11th to the 12th century, set into the façade. The Oratorio di Maria Ausiliatrice in Cusino was begun in 1883 and completed in 1890; it is particularly revered among the faithful of Cusino.

Madonna della Salute and the View over Lake Como

The Santuario della Madonna della Salute, also known as Santuario di Lugone, stands at an altitude of 1,240 metres on Motter Hill. From there, the view extends over Lake Como from Bellagio to the entire Lecco branch. The Festa della Madonna della Salute remains one of the celebrations most deeply felt by the people of these mountains.

Hikes with Different Starting Points

If you are planning hikes, the hike from Cusino to Monte Marnotto begins in Cusino and follows the road to the Monti di Lugone, Malè and Madonna della Salute. The first section of the Sentiero delle 4 Valli runs for 13 kilometres from Breglia to Malè at the beginning of Val Cavargna. The ascent of Monte Pidaggia begins at the Sella di Cusino. From Cusino, an access road leads via a narrow, steep road to Madonna della Salute; parking is available at the Sella.

Alpe di Logone and Parco della Val Sanagra

On the way from Alpe Logone to Alpe Leveja, a path from Salter leads in a few minutes into the Parco della Val Sanagra and onward to Alpe di Logone. Alpe di Logone is considered a mountain pasture that is still farmed today, where butter and Formagelle cheeses are produced.

Accommodation Suited to Your Travel Plans

When choosing a hotel in Cusino, you can decide whether the village churches, the paths into the mountain landscape or the combination of alpine pasture and parkland should be the focus of your stay.

More Destinations

More places for your trip to Italy: Tremezzo, Montorfano, Musso, Monguzzo, Anzano Del Parco, Grandola Ed Uniti, Cermenate, Valbrona

To the higher-level travel overview: Como.