The "Blue Path" from Mergozzo to Montorfano

On the Mergozzo lakefront, facing the water, turn right until you reach Via Borzoni (brown "Sentiero Azzurro" sign), then immediately left. Then take the cobbled steps uphill. At the top of the steps, turn left onto Via Maffioli, arriving at the Oratory of Santa Elisabetta, built in 1623 (fountain). Behind the oratory, briefly turn left onto Via Nostrani, then immediately turn right onto Via Montorfano, climbing up wide, deep steps (signs for "Sentiero Azzurro"). The trail then switches to asphalt, climbing among the houses, and then turns into a dirt road marked by a maze of signs (signs, red/white markings, blue dots, and yellow arrows). When the path finally becomes a true cobblestone path, there are no more doubts and you proceed in the shade, flanked by dry stone walls. After a climb, it joins a slightly wider paved path and continues to the left (signposted), then immediately left again, slightly downhill, leading to the viewpoint overlooking Lake Mergozzo, complete with benches and fountains.The path winds pleasantly, gradually, almost always with views of the lake. A steeper climb leads to a paved road.(If you intend to return by train rather than on foot, you should turn right, downhill, arriving at the Verbania-Pallanza train station.)Take the paved road on the left, uphill, passing the small cemetery and arriving at a parking lot. Follow the dirt road on the right that leads to the meadows before the beautiful Romanesque church of San Giovanni di Montorfano (fountain and tables), which stands alone in all its architectural purity. The trail then climbs through the village's houses until it reaches a stone-lined passage, turning onto the grassy path on the left that climbs to the viewpoint overlooking Lake Maggiore. The return journey follows the same route.