2nd stage of the Via Francisca of Lucomagno

We usually sleep and have breakfast at the Albergo Ristorante 3 Risotti, at Sergio’s, by now a friend of SpiritualTour, and then slowly walk towards the Badia. We take one last look at it, say goodbye, and continue into the wilderness.
From there, in fact, path 15 of the Campo dei Fiori park starts, leading to Brinzio in four kilometres. It climbs up to a viewpoint over the lake and from there we reach Valicci and then descend towards the picturesque village. The ethnographic museum run by the park authority is worth a visit.
At Brinzio we have a nice sandwich with some fruit, as there is often a market garden in the square.
From Brinzio we continue along a path (n.5) of the park that arrives at Rasa, a hamlet where the Olona river has its source.
From Rasa, it is only a short distance to the path leading to Sacro Monte, and the avenue of chapels, which leads to Santa Maria del Monte.
The Via Sacra of Sacro Monte di Varese is a wide cobbled avenue that climbs for more than two kilometres along the slopes of the mountain to reach the Sanctuary of Santa Maria, following a path marked by fourteen chapels dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary (the fifteenth mystery is celebrated in the sanctuary).
The Sacro Monte of Varese, together with others in Lombardy and Piedmont, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003.
When we reached the top, before going for a walk in the village, we went to put down our rucksacks and freshen up at another friend’s, Mario of the Albergo Sacro Monte.
The day ends with a nice dinner and a well-deserved rest.

More information on the Via Francisca del Lucomagno can be found here: https://www.spiritualtour.it/en/the-via-francisca-del-lucomagno/

In collaboration with: La Via Francisca del Lucomagno – https://www.laviafrancisca.org/