Brinzio between forests, lakes and village history

Natural landscape between forest and lake

Brinzio lies in a wooded valley between the western slopes of Monte Martica and the northern foothills of Monte Legnone and Campo dei Fiori. Brinzio is the only municipality located entirely within the Parco Naturale del Campo dei Fiori. The Riserva Naturale del Lago di Brinzio covers around 20 hectares between Brinzio and Motta Rossa. The lake was formed by glacial moraine deposits and is surrounded by an alder floodplain forest and a stand of common reed (Phragmites). Lago di Brinzio is a particularly important breeding area for amphibians. The landscape also features the Masso Erratico della Val d’Intrino, a natural monument consisting of a complex of large boulders. The Cascata del Pésegh is also known as the Cascata del Pésech; it is fed by the Valmolina stream and drops approximately 30 metres in a single leap.

Hiking trails and winter cross-country ski tracks

Several routes begin in Brinzio or lead back to the village. The European long-distance trail E-1 follows the routes of Parco del Campo dei Fiori between Ganna and Brinzio, as well as trails 4 and 5 from Brinzio to Valico delle Pizzelle. Sentiero 4 begins on Via Piave next to the parish church of Brinzio and leads to Valico delle Pizzelle at an altitude of 926 m. Sentiero 320A begins in the centre of Brinzio. Sentiero 315B marks the beginning of an alternative route that leads back to Brinzio via Preciuso, a hamlet of Brinzio.

At Centro Fondo Brinzio, there is a completely flat blue cross-country ski track of around 3 km, as well as a 5 km red track with several short climbs and descents. Centro Fondo Brinzio also offers ski rental with the equipment needed to use the ski facility.

Historic centre and regional culture

The historic centre of Brinzio preserves old courtyards and alleyways paved with hand-worked red natural stone from the region. The Chiesa SS. Pietro e Paolo was built between 1769 and 1774 and consecrated in 1779. The church houses works by Federico Fiori (Barocci) and Camillo Procaccini. Another way to explore the local past is the Museo della Cultura Rurale Prealpina, which opened in 2008 and displays a collection of tools, customs and traditions from 20th-century peasant culture.

Mycology and the Sagra del Fungo

The Sagra del Fungo includes a mycological exhibition featuring and cataloguing dozens of mushroom species. During the event, mycologists can also analyse mushrooms that participants typically find in the forests.

More places to include in your travel plans

Other places you can include in your travel plans are Taino, Leggiuno, Malnate, Cuasso al Monte, Comerio, Travedona-Monate, Saronno and Biandronno.

To the overview of the wider travel area: Varese.