Sentiero Attrezzato della Vergella

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato della Vergella offers a more dynamic and adventurous ascent than the main route from Lecco to the Cappella della Madonna del Carmine on the slopes of Monte San Martino, while still remaining accessible. The itinerary tackles several more pronounced rocky outcrops with the aid of safety chains, requiring no particular technical skills. It can be enjoyed in all seasons, though be mindful of intense heat during the summer months, as much of the route is south-facing.

Approach

The starting point is in the hamlet of Rancio Alto, above Lecco. Once you reach the road to Ballabio, look for a double hairpin turn in a residential area. At the second hairpin, turn left onto via Quarto, which continues straight. After about two hundred meters, at a wide clearing, you'll find a narrow, steep asphalted lane on the right, marked by an open, rusty white barrier. Follow this lane up, take the first hairpin to the left, and at a fork, continue right and uphill. In a few minutes you'll reach an area with a barrier where you can park.

From here, continue on foot along the concrete road to a hairpin turn, where you leave the asphalt and go straight ahead on a mule track marked as CAI trail 52. The trail runs at the foot of the imposing limestone walls of Monte San Martino; follow it, ignoring all deviations to the right (such as the one for trail 58 leading to the Ferrata del Medale). After climbing several switchbacks, you'll reach a fork marked by a white sign indicating the Sentiero Attrezzato della Vergella to the left. The approach from the parking area takes about twenty minutes on compact, gently sloping terrain.

Via Ferrata

From the fork, the route is marked by yellow waymarks. It skirts the area of the Placchette di San Martino climbing crag, an environment of vertical walls frequented by climbers, and continues to the actual start of the via ferrata. The itinerary begins by ascending a rocky gully, where a chain helps overcome a first vertical wall. The rock, initially smooth, soon offers better holds, making progress fairly easy and continuous. In the upper part of the gully, a traverse to the left leads out onto a wide panoramic terrace, a natural ledge that provides a first rest stop with views over the city.

Continue on the trail until you encounter a second wall, shaped like a shallow dihedral. The chain, positioned on the left side, guides the ascent of this face, which is more exposed but remains essentially vertical and non-technical. After overcoming the wall, a short traverse to the left precedes the exit from the rock entirely. Here you climb a few easy rocky steps, marking the end of the fixed equipment. Looking up, the goal of the hike becomes visible: the Cappella della Madonna del Carmine. The trail now continues with a series of ups and downs over easy rock steps and outcrops, ending with a final steep but un-roped section. The time to complete the via ferrata is about one hour from the start, for a total of one hour and thirty minutes from the parking area. The route alternates short vertical sections with stretches of trail walking, maintaining a varied and pleasantly scenic rhythm.

Descent

If you finish the hike at the chapel, the most direct way back starts to its right. This trail initially descends through the woods, then crosses some rocky steps, and finally skirts the walls of Monte San Martino until it rejoins the outward route, returning to the parking area in about forty-five minutes from the chapel, for a loop of roughly two hours and fifteen minutes. The descent follows a well-defined trail, with some rocky passages but no significant exposure.

The itinerary can also be incorporated into longer routes. From the chapel, taking the trail to the right, you can follow the Sentiero Attrezzato Silvia to reach the summit of Monte San Martino in about three-quarters of an hour. From there you have several options: continue toward Corno del Medale and descend via the Sentiero Attrezzato del Medale, or head toward Coltiglione via the Sentiero Attrezzato del GER. Another alternative is to follow the normal trail to the summit of San Martino, then branch off toward Rifugio Piazza and tackle the more technical descent along the Sentiero Attrezzato dei Pizzetti.

Useful Notes

The Sentiero Attrezzato della Vergella has no particularly difficult or exposed passages. The two roped vertical sections provide security for less experienced hikers, while more skilled climbers can attempt them without using the chains, finding solid rock and sufficient holds. The route can also be done in reverse, as a descent, but exercise extreme caution on wet rock or in autumn leaf litter, which can make certain sections-especially the traverses-very slippery. For experienced hikers, an excellent combination is to ascend via the more challenging Ferrata del Medale and descend along the Sentiero Attrezzato Silvia and then the Vergella. The character of the itinerary is predominantly scenic and easy to approach, making it ideal as a first experience on roped rock or as a quick, rewarding alternative.