The ancient chestnut groves still exist today and are well maintained. Thick, gnarled trees, rising from a yellow-brown carpet of ferns, transform the mountain valley into a park landscape.

Begin and end of tour: Arosio
Access starting point: simplest way to reach - by car
Hiking time: 5 h
Physical fitness: easy
Difficulty: easy
Difference in elevation: 150 m
Culmination point: 859 m
Season: April - November
Gastronomy: Ristorante Albergo San Michele, Arosio
Overnight: simple accommodations in Malcantone

The "Sentiero del castagno" points the way from grove to grove and informs you about chestnut cultivation in Malcantone. Of course the kernel, which was cooked, dried or ground into flour to serve as a basic staple food, was the main product. However, the leaves were also utilized as bedding for animal barns or stables and the wood was used for building or as firewood. The chestnut round-tour from Arosio offers not just tranquil chestnut groves, but also beautiful views of Malcantone and beyond, all the way to the Gradiccioli range and to the villages of Mugena, Vezio and Fescoggia.