The No. 5 (Brinzio-Rasa) trail start in Via Piave, at the junction with Via Marconi (the SP 62 provincial road), next to the parish church.

We head off along Via Piave and just after the bridge over Rio Brivola, opposite the local bar and restaurant, we find a junction with three roads leading off it. The route of the No. 5 trails continues uphill and after a few hundred yards takes you to a memorial erected by the Passionists in 1960 to mark a period of preaching for the missions that was held in Brinzio. Next follow the trough of the Val d’Intrino and twenty or thirty yards to your left near the trail we find the cool waters of the Cerro spring by the River Intrino. The spring is in a lovely spot that has always been popular with walkers as a welcome place to stop for a breather. The area was tidied up about twenty or so years ago and two country-style benches were added, which make it even more comfortable and inviting.

The trail splits in two when you get up to about 720 metres (2362 ft) with the No. 5 trail turning left towards Rasa. Not far after this fork in the trail at about 750 metres (2460 ft) on the right orographic slope of the valley is a group of enormous rocks which is known as the glacial erratic of Val d’Intrino and has been recognised as a natural monument.

If you turn off to the left and follow the No. 5 trail, you climb about twenty or thirty metres in altitude to the Varrò pass, which links Val d’Intrino with the Legnone Valley. Once at the pass you will find a turning to your left that leads up to the summit of Monte Legnone at 867 metres (2845 ft). This tantalising secondary trail with panoramic views winds over the crest of the mountain and down the other side through the park at Villa Cagnola before coming out on the SP 62 (provincial road) near Rasa.

After the Varrò pass, the No. 5 trail heads down towards the Legnone Valley until it reaches a characterful chalet at about 600 metres (1970 ft) that has recently been renovated.

Next a mule track takes you along the lower part of the Legnone Valley, following the path of the river down to Rasa di Varese on the western slopes of Mount Chiusarella. Rasa di Varese is a quiet, picturesque village where we can visit the ancient Church of San Gottardo, the parish church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, and the “Stagno della Tagliata”, a pond recognised locally as a natural monument, which is about half a mile to the south of the village.

DETAILS:

• Duration: 2 hours
• Distance: 3 km
• Difficulty: easy
• Altitude: 35 mt.
• Starting point: Brinzio, Via Piave
• Arrival point: località Pizzelle
• Parking: yes, free