Valvestino

From the small village of Persone (900 m asl), which has a few dozen inhabitants, along a short stretch of paved road in the direction of Moerna up to the first bend near a votive newsstand, where you take the path indicated by clear signs. The first part of the itinerary runs between beautiful beech trees, uphill to an open space with a large puddle where you can see wild animals in the early hours of the morning. Continue straight, holding a farmhouse on the left, crossing the carriageway to follow uphill for some bends until you reach a crossroad at 1190 m asl. Here you take the path to the right that remains between beautiful shady woods to reach Bocca Cocca (1327 m asl), a narrow pass characterized by the presence of an old roccolo and military posts with views of Lago d’Idro and the highest mountains of the Trompia Valley. Now the environment changes completely: you continue on the right along the path to Bocca di Valle, with numerous but short ups and downs, between spires and pinnacles, cenge and cùei (natural repairs or caves against which they built huts of branches and leaves that guaranteed protection and warmth to the shepherds of the past), vast panoramas on Valvestino, going around the peaks of Bezplel and Cingla. When you reach Bocca di Valle (1392 m asl), you go back on your steps for a few dozen meters to take the path no. 297 to the left, which winds down with several hairpin bends in the shade of a beautiful forest. Afterwards the route fits in the clearances of the location of Messane until you cross the carriage road (1088 m asl) that goes downhill to reach the center of Persone (900 m asl). Worth a visit to the small, characteristic agglomeration of houses, with a walk along the few streets of the small village.