Belvedere Forte di Orino (VA) – Italy

The Fort of Orino is a very interesting and undemanding walk for the whole family (about 4 km round trip and 4 km back) that winds along the Campo Dei Fiori, from the square of the astronomical observatory G.V. Schiaparelli up to the Fort of Orino. A natural balcony that allows you to admire all the main lakes in the Varese area. Tips: Park near the "Osteria Irma". Along the way there are NO other bars or restaurants, so leave with an empty bladder and bottles of water and sugar sachets! The destination "Forte di Orino" suggests some magnificent medieval construction with towers and observation points to fight enemies. Maybe in the past it was something like that, but not today. Simply you realize that you have arrived at the "Forte di Orino" just because the path ends. After the initial surprise you look around in the small square surrounded by shrubs and low trees and you can see stretches of stone wall that sprouts between the tall grass and ivy, with some kind of recesses obtained inside with the aim of housing the weapons. At the square of the Fort of Orino the gaze can range 360 degrees from the southern area where you can admire Lake Varese, Lake Comabbio, Lake Monate and Lake Maggiore, up to the northern area with the view of the mountains around.  As for the route, it is a very wide path, especially in the initial area where it is easily passable even by a car (preferably off-road), and then narrows slightly in the final stretch. The entire path winds through a dense forest of centuries-old trees, mainly populated by beech trees and various conifers. Along these 4 km it is possible to do exercises thanks to the tools of the "life path"