Discover Schignano: Forest Trails and Mask Culture

Schignano combines an impressive forest landscape with distinctive traditions and trails that bring together art, nature and local history. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Schignano, you will find starting points here for a wide variety of holiday experiences: from views over Lake Como to encounters with historic masks, church art and rural buildings.

Forest Landscape with Expansive Views

The Valle Intelvi Regional Forest occupies the upper natural amphitheatre of Schignano. The area covers approximately 82 hectares and lies almost entirely within the municipality of Schignano. An extensive network of historic mule tracks leads to rural forestry buildings and opens up views of Lake Como and nearby Switzerland. The surroundings therefore appear not only as a forested landscape, but also as an area with traditional trails and distinctive viewpoints.

From the summit of Monte Comana on the Sentiero delle Espressioni, the view extends over Lake Como. Another landmark is the monumental beech tree at Alpe Fontanella, which the La Conca di Schignano trail passes by. A peony also grows at Sasso Gordona, known as the Rosa del Sasso.

Hiking with Art and Local Connections

La Conca di Schignano is a circular hiking trail that begins in Schignano and leads through alpine pastures and forests to the slopes of Sasso Gordona. The Sentiero delle Espressioni offers a different focus: the art trail runs through the forest, where visitors discover one carved wooden sculpture after another. You can park at Posa for the Sentiero and then walk for around 20 minutes towards Alpe Nava, where the trail begins. The access route is considered easy.

The Roccolo del Messo, a rural building open to visitors, lies along the hiking trail between Colma di Binate and Alpe Comana. These specific connections between trails and landscape help you take different holiday priorities into account when choosing your accommodation, without making nature experiences and visits to local sights one and the same.

Masks, Stone and Sacred Art

The Carnevale di Schignano brings together the two masked figures Bèi and brùt in a theatrical confrontation that takes place in the main square and the village’s lanes. The carnival includes hand-carved wooden masks made by local artists; every carnival character wears one of these masks. Historic masks from the Carnevale di Schignano are displayed in the Vetrina della Maschera.

Even outside the carnival period, the small squares and lanes are worth exploring. Fountains, washhouses and portals are considered examples of local stoneworking craftsmanship. Santa Maria Assunta is regarded as a church with ancient origins; its structure and many of its parts were extensively remodelled in the 16th and 17th centuries. The church contains an altarpiece, or an antependium panel, made of scagliola.

The Vetrina della Maschera is visible from outside. To visit the interior, you must contact the La M.A.S.C.H.E.R.A. association at info@lamascheraschignano.it. In Schignarot, the Cappella dei Calceta commemorates a settlement destroyed or abandoned after the plague of the 15th century.

Festivals between Forest and Village

Boscultura is a traditional annual festival that takes place for an entire week at the beginning of June. During the festival, the trail is expanded with new sculptures in the forest. Around a dozen sculptors take part and create their works directly in the forest. During the annual Festa del Voto, a Baroque polychrome Pietà, referred to as a statue of the Madonna Addolorata, is carried through the village streets.

Getting There and Choosing a Holiday Apartment

By car, the route follows State Road 340 “Regina” to Argegno and then continues to Schignano; the distance from Como to Schignano is 25 km. Schignano is also connected to Como by an STP scheduled bus service for the journey. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether your days should focus more on trails through forests and alpine pastures, the sculptures of the Sentiero delle Espressioni or the cultural sights in the village. A holiday apartment in Schignano can thus be combined with a stay that brings together local culture and the starting point of La Conca.

Discover More Places

For further travel planning, you can also explore Zelbio, Civenna, Blevio, Lasnigo, Torno, Valbrona, Pellio Intelvi and Griante.

For the higher-level travel overview: Como.