Cable Car to Piani d'Erna

Lecco lies on the south east leg of Lake Como and is surrounded by tall mountains , it is really quite spectacular. What I really wanted to do was to get up into the mountains and get a great view of Lecco and the lake, so I went just around the corner to the Tourist Information to see if this was possible.

They informed me that there was a Funivia (Cable Car) that went up to Piani d'Erna, a mountain overlooking Lecco, and that it could be reached by local bus, but at this time of the year was only open on Sundays, so guess what? Today is Sunday and we went up Piani d'Erna!

The Furnivia was very easy to get to from our hotel. We went to the Piazza just behind us, bought bus tickets at the Newspaper Stand, and got on the bus, cost so far, just 2.40 Euros each for a return ticket. Within 15 minutes we were weaving our way up the mountain on the local bus, picking up and dropping off the locals at their various stops, by the time we reached the Funivia we were the only people on the bus. As we pulled into the car park we understood why we were the only people on the bus...everyone else had driven up and were now busy squabbling for the few remaining car spots...glad we caught the bus.

One very full carpark

As we purchased our Funivia tickets (10 Euros return for each of us) and got into the queue waiting for the Funivia to take us up the mountain. We soon became aware of people looking at us. Why? Well, this is a very popular spot for serious walkers, and looking at them and then looking at us we looked insufficiently dressed to be going where we were going... no lycra or walking boots, and just as well, I look absolutely frightening in lycra!

Here comes the Funivia

Very soon we were in the very full Funivia making our way to the top, and in just a few minutes we were there. As we all got out, people around us were checking backpacks, tightening laces, and trekking up the steep hill to the left of the exit, we moved around to the right and started taking photos and admiring the view from the viewing area, far more civilised in my opinion!

The views down to Lecco and across Lake Como were breathtaking, and behind us we had mountains looking down on us, this area is truly beautiful.

Views from the Funivia Station at Piani d'Erba

Admiring the scenery from the Viewing Area

The amazing peaks above us

We soon realised that we were the only ones taking in the views, everyone else could be seen disappearing up and down various trekking paths leading into the surrounding mountains. We looked at each other and realised even though we did not have the right gear we were going to have to bite the bullet and do some trekking as well.

We picked the track we were going to take, and holding hands to the gently declining path an arduous 50 to the cafe we could see.

It was a hard trek, but someone had to do it!

Recovery after a major walking expedition

Other sensible walkers

So for the next hour we sat and had a coffee as we took in the fresh air and beautiful scenery, as well as played a game of spot the trekkers amongst the many paths on the mountains above us.

After a while we took on the inevitable, the walk back up the gentle slope to the Funivia!

On the way down

In a short time we were going back down the mountain in the Funivia, boarded our chauffeur driven vehicle (okay it was the local bus), and made our way back to the hotel.

Our personal vehicle was awaiting

Very soon we were back in Lecco, but before I could relax Lesley spotted a market that had setup around the lakes edge, so off we went.

Relaxing back at the lake

The market was more of an arts and crafts market, but everything looked really good, I hink this was more to do more with the environment than the actual goods.

Market tents setup around the lake

Lesley gets into "Shopping Mode"

We finally sat down to relax at the end of the market stalls in a lovely little park with uninteruppted lake and mountain views.

Finally, time to relax

As we sat relaxing we noticed a small cafe in the gardens just a couple of hundred metres away set in another park on the edge of the lake, we looked at each with that knowing you get when you have been together as a couple for as long as we have....lunch!!!

Somehow we had stumbled on a well kept secret...the food and drinks were cheap but very generous serves and tasty, what a bonus. So we decided on some healthy cool water so accompany our Antipasti plate and Campari Spritz drinks

Lunch...yum

The view from our table

After lunch, which lasted well into the afternoon, we strolled back beside the lake to the hotel. On the way we came across the only thing in the whole area that resembled anything like a beach. I found this very amusing, and then started to annoy Lesley by singing "Lecco beach, far away in time, Lecco Beach...", too many Campari's I think. I have been told that I have to apologize to any poor person that might of heard me, and to Martha and the Muffins for such an awful altered rendition of their song, some of you younger people may have to look them up on the Internet!

Lecco Beach!!!!!

So another wonderful day in Italy, now we know why George Clooney likes this area.

 

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