Vararo: Mountain Village, Circular Trail and Local Specialties
Accommodation in Vararo
Vararo is a mountain hamlet of Cittiglio located at an altitude of 750 m. The circular trail begins at 725 m and from there leads through the route's sequence of elevations.
File:Monti Nudo La Teggia Pizzoni da Poggio Vararo.png
Photo: Pampuco via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Mountain Village and Val Buseggia
The old village center has largely preserved its original mountain-village architecture. Cort di Ratt conveys an old-world atmosphere. Several occurrences of the rare orchid Ophrys apifera can be found in the meadows of Val Buseggia. This botanical find is tied to the meadows of Val Buseggia, not to the village center. A visit to the village therefore takes in both the architectural forms of the mountain village and the separate meadow area of Val Buseggia.
Pizzoni di Laveno Route
The Pizzoni di Laveno route leads to Passo Barbè, which is regarded as a panoramic ridge point. The Vararo Rose Garden is located along this route and is worth a visit there. A ridge point lies along the course of a mountain ridge and therefore denotes a specific position within the terrain. For hikers, Passo Barbè and the Rose Garden can be considered two distinct points along the route.
Circular Trail with Elevation Points
The Vararo circular trail begins at an altitude of 725 m and initially heads towards Monte Crocetta at 1117 m. It then continues via a paragliding launch area to Monte Nudo at 1235 m. The walking time is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. For planning your time, this approximate duration provides the framework for the loop. The sequence of elevations places the first ascent to Monte Crocetta before the further ascent to Monte Nudo; the paragliding launch area lies between them. Those dividing up the route can consider the duration together with the two mountain destinations and this intermediate point. The trail thus connects a lower starting point with two successive elevation points.
San Bernardo and the History of the Village
In 1755, San Bernardo was still a subsidiary church of Cittiglio, and in 1769 it was established as a parish. The church was rebuilt in 1796 after the older chapel had fallen into poor and dilapidated condition. For those interested in culture, San Bernardo is therefore centered on its former connection with Cittiglio, its establishment as a parish and the new construction. The terms subsidiary church and parish refer to different stages in the ecclesiastical history of San Bernardo.
Bell Tower and Fresco
The short bell tower houses the bells from the demolished Church of San Giulio in Cittiglio. Above the portal, a fresco of Saint Bernard dating to around 1870 is visible. The two details are located in different parts of the church building: the bells in the short bell tower and the fresco above the portal.
Cheese from Vararo's Hollow
The company Capre e Cavoli, founded in 2002, is located in the hollow of Vararo. It produces and sells fresh and aged cheeses exclusively from processed raw goat's milk. Its range includes, among others, Bacio di Vararo and Caciotta del Sasso del Ferro. Fresh and aged cheeses are two distinct forms within the range, both based on processed raw goat's milk. Alongside the village center, trails and church, these cheese specialties provide a separate culinary focus in Vararo.
To the overarching travel overview: Laveno-Mombello.
