Brunate to San Maurizio Walk (Como Funicular Route)

The walk from Brunate to the San Maurizio lighthouse is a short, family-friendly outing high above the western shore of Lake Como in Lombardy, prized for its sweeping lake and mountain panoramas. The route begins in the hillside village of Brunate (about 715 m), most easily reached by the historic Como-Brunate funicular, which climbs from the lakeside in Como in around seven minutes for roughly €3 each way. From Brunate the walk is about 4 kilometres round trip with only around 180 metres of ascent, taking one and a half to two hours and graded T (Tourist) — easy enough for families with older children. Trailhead access without the funicular is also possible by car on the winding road up from Como, with limited village parking; no permit is required. The path follows a mix of quiet paved lanes and stony footpath through woodland and past elegant villas, with patches of shade from the trees and open balconies where the lake views unfold. The turn-around point is the Faro Voltiano, the 19th-century San Maurizio lighthouse built in 1927 to honour the centenary of physicist Alessandro Volta's death; its spiral staircase can be climbed for a 360-degree panorama over the lake, the city of Como and the Alps. Along the way the village of Brunate itself offers Liberty-style villas, cafés and bars where walkers can find water and refreshment, and several restaurants make natural rest points. There are no mountain refuges, as the walk stays low and close to the village. The route can be lengthened by continuing toward San Maurizio's hamlet or the trails toward Monte Boletto for stronger walkers. Sunset from Brunate over the lake is especially memorable. The walk is enjoyable year-round, weather permitting, with clear days offering the finest long-range views; winter can bring occasional ice on shaded paved sections.