From the Cannobio lakeside to the Sant'Anna Ravine

The starting point is the Lido di Cannobio area, near the mouth of the Cannobino River. The route begins by following the beautiful lakeside promenade (Via Magistris), but we recommend a few detours into the narrow side streets to discover the various medieval architectural treasures.After the Town Hall, take Via XVII Maggio, which ascends slightly, until it intersects with the SS 34 of Lake Maggiore. After crossing the state road, go around the parking lot in the Amore area on the left and continue along secondary roads at the foot of the mountainside until you emerge parallel to the SP 75 of the Cannobina Valley and take Via Cuserina, which you follow for about 400 meters until you reach a clearing dedicated to parking. Right near the entrance to the parking lot, a new cycle/pedestrian section begins along a path that climbs halfway up the hillside to the Acqua Carlina Springs; this is the most bucolic section of the entire route.From here, the trail descends along a few hairpin bends until it intersects with the SP 75 Valle Cannobina road, which you follow for about 800 meters, leaving the turnoff for Traffiume on your right and continuing uphill (there's a 40-meter elevation gain) until the turnoff for Via Sant'Anna, which leads to the Sant'Anna ravine, a picturesque gorge carved out by the Cannobino stream, and to the small church dedicated to the mother of Mary. These two natural and religious monuments are reached by descending. After crossing the bridge in front of the church, you take the almost flat cycle/pedestrian path that runs along the left bank of the Cannobino stream, initially adjacent to a small beach that's very popular in the summer.This stretch is particularly scenic because it's close to the stream, with several meadows and cultivated fields on one side and a well-shaded area on the other, overlooking the stream. Once you reach the cycle/pedestrian bridge (the so-called Ponte Ballerino), to return to the Lido, you can choose to cross the bridge and continue on the bike path on the right bank, or continue on the bike path on the left bank, which intersects with the Lake Maggiore state road at the bridge. From here, the bike path runs alongside the soccer field and returns to the starting point.