Exploring Monte Poieto, Cornagera, and the Buco della Carolina

Overview ~ Thoughts ~ Flora ~ Photos

 

   

Top left: The madonnina of Monte Cornagera keeps watch over the Val Seriana.

Top right: Approaching Monte Cornagera from below.
Bottom left: Passing through the feature called "Buco della Carolina".

Bottom center: The trail on top of Monte Cornagera.

Bottom right: The cableway of Monte Poieto, Aviatico.

This is about a hike to Monte Poieto, passing through the feature called Buco della Carolina and the surrounding “canyons” of Cornagera. You can park here to start the hike (as one option). We last did this hike in 2016. In that post From Bergamo to Monte Poieto we talk about the options for arriving without a car. In the 2016 hike, we hiked from Rifugio Poieto down to Aviatico. In this hike, we do a loop from Avicatico to Monte Poieto and back.

Overview

Duration: 2 hours walking
Elevation: Max elevation 1353 m. Elevation gain 400 m. Starting elevation 1014 m.
Length: 5.5 km
Location: Albino, Valle Seriana, Province of Bergamo

Thoughts

We rarely repeat a hike. Because there are so many hikes to choose from around Bergamo, we are usually interested in exploring rather than repeating. That said, a repeat hike (or any kind of exploration travel really) has its benefits. You see things with new eyes, new information, and experience. And, in this case, with new friends.

During this hike, we went with friends from our neighborhood. These friends are experienced hikers that were able to point out geographical features and give historical context. These friends grew up in Bergamo walking these trails. At one point on the trail, they pointed out where to find fossils, and we did. At another point, they explained how World War II soldiers hid among the rocks. Insights like this made this repeat hike completely new and fun.

Monte Poieto (1375 m) is the mountain that the rifugio of the same name is on. Today, when we visit, everything is closed for a seasonal break – the rifugio and cableway are silent. But there are picnic tables and large areas to spread out a blanket and relax. We have a lunch of sandwiches, wine, and mapo, a cross between the mandarin cultivar "Avana" and the grapefruit cultivar "Duncan".

From Monte Poieto you can see the cross of Monte Cornagera (1312 m), just 700 m away as the crow flies. The etymology of Cornagera name was covered in our post From Bergamo to Monte Poieto. For the etymology of Poieto, our hiking companion suggests the name came from dialect and has to do with the activity of creating charcoal.

The Cornagera craggy dolomite peaks have been an escape for residents below (Aviactico) for thousands of years. In 999, it is reported that the local population escaped here for fear of the new millennium (millenarianism). Or centuries later to escape pirates, plagues, and even the Nazis during World War II.

The towers of Cornagera (i torrioni della Cornagera) have names that every local knows: Longo, Garlini, Torre Savini, and i Gemelli. Generations of climbers did their first climbs here.

The Buco della Carolina is a 50 m fissure between Monte Cornagera and Monte Poieto that you can squeeze through if you want as a variation in the trail. The origin of the name goes back to World War II. After Italy signed the Armistice of Cassibile, many local Italian soldiers went into hiding to avoid being killed. One young soldier hiding in this fissure had a lover called Carolina and wished only to get back alive to hold her in his arms.

Flora

 
[Agaricaceae] Macrolepiota procera

[Betulaceae] Betula pendula

  

[Colchicaceae] Colchicum autumnale

[Fagaceae] Fagus sylvatica



[Gentianaceae] Gentiana asclepiadea

[Lamiaceae] Teucrium chamaedrys



[Lunulariaceae] Lunularia cruciata



[Primulaceae] Cyclamen sp.


[Ranunculaceae] Hepatica nobilis


[Rosaceae] Sorbus aria

Photos

  

Left and center: Sign markers for Trail 537, Monte Cornagera.
Right: Tracks and stats.

 

Left: a sign describing the Cornagera area.
Right: view from Monte Poieto toward Monte Cornagera.

 
On top of Monte Cornagera.

  

On top of Monte Cornagera, Aviatico, Val Seriana, Bergamo.

  

The feature called "Buca della Carolina".

  
The feature called "Buca della Carolina".

  

The towers of Cornagera and climbing toward Monte Cornagera.

Roundtrip Bergamo to Selvino on Foot, Cable Car, Bus, and Tram

Overview | Notes | Flora 

Left: View from trail 533 north toward Poscante and beyond to the Bergmasque Alps.
Right: Heading north toward Selvino; on trail 533 above Castello.

Overview

Length: 20 km (12.4 mi) - Trail 533 is 14 km long. It was 3 km from Bergamo (Fontana del Delfino) to the start of trail and another 3 km from the end of trail in Selvino to the funivia (cable car).

Duration: 7 hours total, with 1 hour lunch break at Agriturismo Merelli Gilberto (Salmezza)

Elevation: Max elevation at 1050 m (3,445 ft) above Salmezza. Starting elevation 265 m (869 ft) Piazzetta Delfino.

Location: Italy, Lombardy, Bergamo, Parco dei Colli di Bergamo

Left: The hike route from Bergamo to Selvino.  Right: The last bit of trail before reaching the meadows of Salmezza.

Notes

Trail 533 is the closest major hiking trail to Bergamo and makes for an easy if not logical starting point for getting into the mountains quickly. This is especially true when you want to hike under just the power of our own feet and public transportation. 533 starts inauspiciously between two estates in the Quintino Alto neighborhood, a stone’s throw from the Atalanta stadium. The trail starts ascending quickly over limestone outcrops, positioned at angles due to a long ago upheaval.

As you climb, the trail splits and recombines. You pass bird blinds that have seen better days and hint at the once important role of migratory birds for food. In the nearby hills roccoli – big living bird traps – dominate strategic positions on ridges.

Before you reach your first major way point on the trail, Maresana, you’ll have schooling in the local flora. At eye level and above you will find Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana), European Smoketree (Sommacco selvatico), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), European hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), Common hazel (Corylus avellana), and Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). Casting your gaze down, you’ll see Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus), Liverwort (Anemone hepatica), Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger), Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridis), Cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens), Vinca (Vinca minor), and Keeled Garlic (Allium carnatum) just to name a few.

Left: Sign along trail 533. Center left: A cow in Salmezza. Center right: A hedgerow approaching Salmezza. Right: View north above Monte di Nese.

Our hiking history around Bergamo is intimately tied to Trail 533 as many of our hikes use this trail, for example:

• 2020 – A Classic Bergamo Hike: Canto Alto
• 2017 - A Hike from Maresana to Selvino
• 2017 - A Short Hike from Bergamo to Monte di Nese

Today’s hike is very much like our 2017 hike from Maresana to Selvino except that we started from Bergamo city center and returned by public transportation (cable car, bus, and tram). You could easily reverse our path today and go from Bergamo to Selvino on public transportation and walk back to Bergamo.


The cableway Albino – Selvino connects Albino in the valley with its mountain sister Selvino. There is a 2000 ft (640 m) difference between the two towns. This being Italy, there is a path to walk between the two as well.

The cable car is owned by the bus company that operates in the area, which means there is good coordination between cable car and bus times. For example, if you come down from Selvino to Albino, there will be a bus waiting to take you to the Albino main bus station. At the Albino station you can pick up the Tramvie Elettriche Bergamasche (TEB) and ride the dozen stops back to Bergamo. Heading down the Lower Val Seriana you can review you hike out the window of the tram. The hills you just walked over are visible over the abandoned industrial architecture that once made the valley an industrial powerhouse.

Lunch choices at Merelli Gilberto (Salmezza). Left: gnocchetti alle ortiche (nettle gnocchi). Center: Tagliolini ai funghi. Right: Mixed meats with potatoes and polenta taragna.

Flora

The standout plant of today’s hike is the [Liliaceae] Allium carinatum commonly called keeled garlic or witch’s garlic, native to the Mediterranean Region from Spain to Turkey. It pokes up most unexpectedly in the dry days at the end of summer. Pinch a small piece off, crush and enjoy a garlic moment during your hike.


[Adoxaceae] Viburnum lantana - Wayfaring Tree (Viburno lantana)

[Asparagaceae] Polygonatum odaratum - Angular Solomon's Seal (Sigillo di Salomone comune) - based on single berry.

[Asteraceae] Cichorium inthybus - Chicory, Cornflower (Cicoria selvatica)

[Asteraceae] Eupatorium cannabinum - Holy Rope, Hemp Agrimony (Canapa acquatica)

[Balsaminaceae] Impatiens balfourii - Kashmir Balsam (Balsamina di Balfour)

[Betulaceae] Betula pendula - Silver Birch (Betulla bianca)

[Campanulaceae] Campanula trachelium - Canterbury Bells (Campanula selvatica)

[Caprifoliaceae] Lomelosia graminifolia - Scabious (Vedovina strisciante)

[Caryophyllaceae] Dianthus seguieri - Sequier's Pink (Garafano di Seguier)

[Caryophyllaceae] Saponaria officinalis – Bouncingbet, Common Soapwort (Saponaria comune)

[Colchicaceae] Crocus autumnale - Naked Lady (Colchico d'autunno)

[Lamiaceae] Salvia glutinosa - Sticky Sage (Salvia vischiosa)

[Liliaceae] Allium carinatum - Keeled Garlic (Aglio carenato)

[Primulaceae] Cyclamen purpurascens - Cyclamen (Ciclamino delle Alpi)

[Ranuculaceae] Hepatica nobilis - Liverwort (Epatica erba trinità)

[Rosaceae] Prunus spinosa – Blackthorn, Sloe (Prunus selvatico)