• Itinerari
    • Cycle Tourism
    • Active & Green

Unesco fossils between Italy and Switzerland

DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL
From: Porto Ceresio
To: Besano
TYPE/PERIOD
Cycling
Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter
Duration/Length
5 h
35km
CHANGE IN ALTITUDE
Uphill: 1100m
Downhill: 1090m
DIFFICULTY
DIFFICULT

From the lakeside promenade in the characteristic small town of Porto Ceresio on the new cycle track and gravel tracks, the route then starts to climb through the Unesco area’s most important fossil sites on Monte San Giorgio. After a few sections through trenches and spectacular panoramas it then continues to Sasso Caldo, where the Besanosaurus, one of the world’s most important fossils, was found.
Across the historic border between Italy and Switzerland it descends into the latter as far as Meride, a beautiful pristine town and site of a fossil museum which was renovated and enlarged in 2012 by architect Mario Botta.
The return journey is on an educational footpath which returns to Cà del Monte and Besano for a visit to the museum on the Italian side.


Point of interest:

  • Siti fossiliferi
  • miniere di piombo e argento
  • museo dei fossili di Meride e Besano
  • trincee della linea Cadorna

BIKE: E-bike, MTB, full

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