Hermitage and Lake of San Colombano

A splendid walk that first climbs into history, climbing the 102 steps carved into the rock, to visit the Hermitage of St. Columbanus, a mystical place dating back to 700 AD and set in a rocky wall on a 120-metre cliff, an ancient refuge for hermit monks and for centuries a destination for pilgrims from all over the world. Legend tells of the Irish saint who came here as a young knight to slay the dragon that was terrorising and killing the local population.After visiting the hermitage with its frescoes and engravings (open from May to September on Sundays and public holidays - info: eremosancolombano@gmail.com), you descend the steps and enter the woods along a little path that reaches the shores of the narrow and evocative Lake San Colombano, passing first by the dam of the same name. The path runs along the entire length of the lake amidst thick vegetation and naturalistic views of rare beauty, ending at the Spino aqueduct. From there, it is advisable to retrace one's steps by returning along the little road just taken (or to climb up a zigzag path towards the SS46 state road and the village of Spino, then back up again towards Moscheri, returning from the Trambileno provincial road).