Imbersago: Trails along the Adda, Ferry and Culture

Imbersago between the Adda landscape and culture

Imbersago combines a protected natural landscape with trails along the Adda and an unusually rich cultural history. The natural landscape around Imbersago is protected by Parco Adda Nord. The trails can be explored on foot or by bicycle. This gives visitors different ways to experience the landscape at a leisurely pace and combine cultural sites with an active day outdoors.

On foot or by bicycle along the Adda

The Parco Adda Nord – Traghetto di Imbersago route follows unpaved paths along the banks of the Adda that are suitable for easy outings, including for wheelchair users. On the Imbersago side of this route, the path follows the Adda along a flat, easy-to-navigate cycle path. Depending on your interests, you can plan a short walk or explore the route by bicycle. The combination of a level path and riverside landscape makes this part of Imbersago particularly easy to navigate when planning a relaxing day out.

The trails in Imbersago also include a historic and literary Dante trail. Signs mark it at significant points around the town; its content is based on passages from the Divine Comedy. Another notable connection between a trail and religious history is offered by the Santuario della Madonna del Bosco. It is easily reachable on foot from the centre of Imbersago. The Scala Santa leading to the sanctuary has 349 steps, which the faithful still climb on their knees today. The origin of the devotion is associated with a reported apparition on 9 May 1617.

Leonardo, historic buildings and local culture

The Traghetto di Imbersago connects the bank of Imbersago with the bank of Villa d’Adda. A crossing on the Traghetto Leonardesco offers a peaceful experience surrounded by nature and history. The Traghetto Leonardesco is documented as early as 1454 and is considered the subject that Leonardo da Vinci depicted in a drawing from 1513, included in the Codice Atlantico.

The Ecomuseo Adda di Leonardo also offers an introduction to the cultural history of the waterscape: it is an open-air museum on the Naviglio di Paderno. Villa Mombello was built in the 17th century by the Counts Andreotti and stands on an older residential building belonging to the Airoldi family from the 16th century. The Filanda in Imbersago illustrates the transition from agricultural work to manufacturing.

The Santuario della Madonna del Bosco preserves a publicly accessible collection of 112 votive offerings. These include panels, canvases and cardboard works, most of which date from the 19th century. For a visit focused on culture, the Mercatino dell’Antico complements these historical themes: the market takes place from February to November, except in August, on the third Sunday of every month. Its event area is located around Piazza Garibaldi and in the adjoining streets in the town centre.

Which accommodation suits your stay

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Imbersago, you can focus on the different aspects of the town: the trails along the Adda, the Dante trail, the Santuario della Madonna del Bosco, or the cultural sites around the Traghetto, Ecomuseo and Villa Mombello. This allows you to plan your stay around walks, cycling tours and historical impressions without assuming that everyone in a travel group has the same interests.

For further travel planning, you can also explore Bosisio Parini, Valmadrera, Civate, Piantedo, Oliveto Lario, Calco, Onno and Bevera di Sirtori.

Back to the main travel overview: Lecco.