Adda River to Lake Como - Trezzo S/A to Paré route

This is a very easy but long ride along the Adda river all the way to the southern tip of the east branch of Lake Como. Much of the ride is scenic and is on a mix of dirt, gravel and pavements of various types. A brief stretch is on urban roads (the part near Lecco / Lake Como). Only a few rocky and bumpy patches.

There is a lot of history along the river. You will pass some of the very first hydroelectric plants ever built anywhere in the world. These date to the late 19th C and are fantastic examples of architecture of the time (when they had high standards and employed artists and artisans to decorate the impressive buildings). You will pass under a huge iron single arch bridge that has a lattice structure very similar to the Tour Eiffel. This bridge was a critical east west link during WW2 and the allies tried to blow it up but were not successful. You will pass directly under a medieval age chapel / sanctuary high up on a rocky outcropping above the river.

You will see canals and locks that were originally designed by Leonardo da Vinci. In fact, the canal from the renaissance times was later used perfectly for the above-mentioned hydroelectric plants because the canal gradually diverges from the river in the southward direction. The canal maintains its altitude as the river descends and this created the potential difference that is exploited downstream where the power plants run the canal water above through the turbines and eject the water into the river below. Also, at the town of Imbersago there is a ferry boat designed by Leonardo and still operating for cars, bikes and pedestrians. The engine-less ferry runs along a cable and uses the flow of the river to propel itself back and forth. Another nice town along the way is Brivio, which spreads along the river banks and has a charming, small castle. In Brivio there are several good cafés, restaurants and a very good gelateria a few paces from the river bank. The town of Garlate, on the lake across from Lecco, is very nice, has great views of the lake and mountains and has a fantastic lakeside park with grass, fountains, trees, restaurants. Good place to chill out and eat lunch before the return haul.