Schignano among forest paths, masks and local culture

Schignano is a destination for you if you would like to combine a trip to Italy with forest landscapes, outdoor art and a strong local culture. Among the slopes of Valle Intelvi, you will encounter paths, churches, masks and festivals that give the town different perspectives.

Forest, paths and views

The Valle Intelvi Regional Forest occupies the upper natural amphitheatre of Schignano, covers approximately 82 hectares and lies almost entirely within the municipality of Schignano. The extensive network of historic mule tracks leads to rural forestry buildings and offers views of the Lario and nearby Switzerland.

The Sentiero delle Espressioni also combines nature and art in a special way: the art trail leads through the forest, where visitors discover one carved wooden sculpture after another. The summit of Monte Comana on the Sentiero delle Espressioni offers a view of Lake Como. You can park for the trail at Posa and then walk for about 20 minutes towards Alpe Nava, where the trail begins. The route is considered easy.

La Conca di Schignano is a circular hiking trail that begins in Schignano and leads through alpine pastures and forests to the slopes of Sasso Gordona. Along the way, the trail passes the monumental beech tree at Alpe Fontanella. A peony known as Rosa del Sasso also grows on Sasso Gordona. Roccolo del Messo is a rural building open to visitors on the hiking trail between Colma di Binate and Alpe Comana.

Masks, churches and living traditions

The Carnevale di Schignano is associated with a theatrical confrontation between the two masked figures Bèi and brùt, which takes place in the main square and along the town's lanes. Hand-carved wooden masks made by local artists are used; every character in the carnival wears one of these masks.

The lanes and small squares of Schignano feature fountains, wash houses and portals regarded as examples of local stonework. Santa Maria Assunta is considered a church of ancient origin; its layout and many of its parts were extensively remodelled in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its furnishings include an altarpiece or an antependium attachment made of scagliola.

The Vetrina della Maschera contains historic masks from the Carnevale di Schignano. It can be viewed from outside. To visit the interior, contact the La M.A.S.C.H.E.R.A. association at info@lamascheraschignano.it.

Boscultura is a traditional annual festival held for an entire week at the beginning of June. During the festival, the path is extended with new sculptures in the forest. Around a dozen sculptors take part in Boscultura, creating their works directly in the forest.

Further established points of reference belong to the town's religious and historical culture. During the annual Festa del Voto, a Baroque polychrome Pietà, in the form of a statue of the Madonna Addolorata, is carried through the town's streets. The Cappella dei Calceta in Schignarot commemorates a settlement destroyed or abandoned after the 15th-century plague.

Getting there and planning your stay

By car, the route follows State Road 340 “Regina” to Argegno and then continues to Schignano. It is 25 km from Como. One travel option is the STP bus service from Como to Schignano.

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Schignano, you can organise your plans around your preferred interests: local culture is reflected in lanes, churches, masks and festivals, while the paths described have different starting points at Schignano, Posa and Alpe Nava, as well as along the routes between Colma di Binate and Alpe Comana. This allows you to structure your stay around cultural interests, forest paths or views of the Lario and Lake Como.

Other destinations

For your further travel planning: Novedrate, Argegno, Sorico, Lurago D'erba, Vassena, Cagno, Albese Con Cassano, Faggeto Lario

To the main travel overview: Como.