The Columban Way - Italy

This Italian section of the Columban Way is a long, generally forgiving pilgrimage-style walk of about 330 km / 205 miles with roughly 4,800 m / 15,750 ft of total ascent, linking the Swiss-Italian border in the Mera Valley with Bobbio in Emilia-Romagna. Although often rated easy overall, that rating reflects the moderate gradients and long stretches on valley paths, lakeside tracks, cycleways, embankments, and rural roads rather than a short or effortless outing. The challenge is more about consistency, exposure, and daily mileage than steep mountain terrain. The route is commonly divided into 18 stages, plus an extra 8 km / 5 mile extension from Bobbio to Coli and the Cave of St Michael. (thecolumbanway.org)

The walk begins near the Swiss border above Chiavenna, with the practical trail access closest to Villa di Chiavenna / the Mera Valley border area, about 12 km / 7.5 miles from Chiavenna. Chiavenna is the main gateway town and is reachable by train and bus, while the actual departure area is reached by bus or road transfer into the valley. At the far end, Bobbio is connected onward by bus, especially toward Piacenza, where rail connections are easier to pick up. (admin.viacolumbani.com)

For hikers arriving by public transport, the simplest plan is usually to travel into Chiavenna railway and bus station, Piazza Castello / central Chiavenna, then continue by local bus or taxi toward the upper valley start. If driving, Chiavenna is the most straightforward place to stage a vehicle before arranging a transfer to the border-side start; at the finish, Bobbio is best treated as a bus-linked hill town rather than a railhead. From Bobbio, buses connect back toward Piacenza along the Val Trebbia corridor. (admin.viacolumbani.com)

What the route feels like

The first part has a distinctly Alpine character. From the Mera Valley and Chiavenna area, the route passes mountain churches, waterfalls, and old stone settlements before trending south along the eastern side of Lake Como. Expect a mix of valley walking and scenic traverses above or near the water, with villages such as Dervio, Bellano, Varenna, Lierna, and Abbadia marking a more settled, cultural stretch of the trail. (admin.viacolumbani.com)

This lakeside section is one of the most visually varied parts of the walk. The terrain is rarely severe, but surfaces can alternate between paved lanes, old mule tracks, village passages, and path sections that require attention in wet weather. The scenery shifts constantly between chestnut and mixed woodland, terraced slopes, lake views, and compact historic centers. In clear conditions, the contrast between the deep water of Como and the enclosing mountains is one of the route’s defining features. (in-lombardia.it)

South of Lecco, the route changes character again as it follows the Adda corridor. Here the walking becomes flatter and more rhythmic, often on cycle paths and riverside tracks through Adda Nord Park and the Martesana canal zone. This is where daily distance can sneak up on people: the grades are easy, but the repetitive surfaces and urban-edge mileage can be tiring on feet and joints. (in-lombardia.it)

Landmarks, heritage, and historical setting

The entire route is tied to Saint Columbanus, the Irish monk who crossed Europe in the late 6th and early 7th centuries and eventually founded the abbey at Bobbio in 614. His movement played a major role in early medieval monastic culture, literacy, and the religious and cultural rebuilding of post-Roman Europe. Bobbio later became one of northern Italy’s great religious and intellectual centers, sometimes described as a northern counterpart to Montecassino because of the importance of its abbey and scriptorium. (in-lombardia.it)

In the Chiavenna area, notable features include Lake Mera, the Church of San Martino in Aurogo, local waterfalls, the Bottonera Mill Museum, Palace Balbiani, and the medieval core of Chiavenna itself. These are not just scenic stops; they