The Cornizzolo (1,241 metres) is one of the most recognisable peaks of the Triangolo Lariano, with its pointed profile and the large cross that can be seen from the Prealps and the lakes of the Alta Brianza: it lies between the provinces of Como and Lecco, above Civate.
History
Legends make it the scene of a battle: the story goes that here Saint George killed a dragon and in doing so parted the Segrino from the Pusiano, the two lakes at its foot. Some travel accounts call it a “sacred” mountain, because in ancient times Celtic and Roman cults were practised here, and the Alpini chapel keeps its memory today; according to Wikipedia, at 1,100 metres, in a saddle towards Monte Rai, a Mesolithic site was found, possibly a seasonal hunters’ camp. At the foot, in Civate, path 10 leads in about three quarters of an hour to the basilica of San Pietro al Monte, in the wood at 630 metres.
The summit cross is of wrought iron, made by the smiths of Canzo; the earlier stone cross is kept next to the Alpini chapel (one source dates it to 1900 and to a restoration in 1997).
What to see
From the top you see the plain, the Triangolo Lariano, the Grigne, the Corni di Canzo and, in clear air, even the outlines of the Valtellina and Switzerland; to the south Lakes Annone, Pusiano and Alserio. The almost constant wind makes it one of the best-known places for paragliding and hang gliding, with a spectacular launch and a flying range of about fifteen kilometres; at weekends some schools offer tandem flights even to those without a licence, and the Cornizzolo Cup is held here.
Getting there
One route is the loop from Eupilio, about ten kilometres with 374 metres of ascent and four hours in all according to the unofficial hiking guides we consulted, alternating asphalt and trail: you leave the car in via Cornizzolo, near the Trattoria Brianzola, and climb the asphalt road closed to traffic up to the Marisa Consigliere hut (1,050 m), with glimpses of Lakes Pusiano, Alserio and Annone; from the hut a short but steep path leads to the top in just over 300 metres. From Civate you park in via del Pozzo (360 m) and follow path 10: 280 metres of ascent to the abbey, then about an hour and a quarter to the cross (880 metres in all). Other climbs start from Suello (the direttissima, 2.5 km and 900 metres of ascent) and from the Fonti di Gajum at Canzo. Cyclists climb from Eupilio for just under eight kilometres and 740 metres, with an average gradient above 9% (Wikipedia): the second half is closed to motor vehicles and the barrier is passed on foot. The times, ascents and difficulty ratings on this page come from unofficial hiking guides and portals (see Sources), not from a body that manages the trail. Times, difficulty and trail conditions change with the season and should be checked before setting out (CAI, hut managers, weather forecast).
Practical information
- Height: 1,241 metres (OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia, Wikidata; other sources 1,240).
- The Marisa Consigliere hut has 16 beds and 80 seats according to the Region’s portal, with its own page: the manager writes that lunch bookings are not taken.
Sources
- Okviaggi, Il Monte Cornizzolo (January 2026) and The WOM Travel (March 2026)
- Salì in vetta, Cornizzolo and San Pietro al Monte from Civate
- In giro con Luchino, Escursione sul Monte Cornizzolo
- Rifugi di Lombardia portal (Region) and Wikipedia, Monte Cornizzolo entry; Wikidata and OpenStreetMap.