Following in H.C. Andersen's Footsteps

A hike along Lago Maggiore (with JAC)

Route

luino - cannero - cannobio riviera - luino

Date and time

Ferry ticket (covered by the Danish Semester & JAC)

Denmark may be known for its flat terrain, but this hike offers a chance to experience the gentle elevations that Lago Maggiore has to offer. While the hike exceeds any Danish altitude, it is nevertheless one of the flatter ones around Lago Maggiore.

Plus, it's an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Danish author H.C. Andersen, who visited this beautiful area in 1833 and recorded his enchanting impressions in his diary, later – in his biography book "The Fairy Tale of My Life." He described the vibrant life in Domo d’Osola and the magical landscapes of Lago Maggiore, likening the view to a higher and clearer version of Denmark's skies.

Cost

14 september 2025

26 participants went for a delightful hike organized by JAC in collaboration with the Danish Semester!

Our adventure started with a ferry ride from Luino to Cannobio. The hiking route took us along the scenic high path to Cannero Riviera, where after refreshments we cought the return ferry back to Luino.

There is so much to explore in the picturesque surroundings of the Lago Maggiore!

The square and streets of Domo d’Osola offered the picture of Italy with its street life. Lago Maggiore shone between the black-blue mountains. Lovely islands lay like bouquets on the water, but the sky was not clear. It was gray like in Denmark. Only in the evening had it blown away and the air shone transparent and clear. It seemed three times as high as at home.

“Domo d’Osola’s torv og gader frembød billedet af Italien med sit folkeliv paa gaden. Lago Maggiore lyste mellem de sortblå bjerge. Dejlige øer lå som buketter på vandet, men himlen var ikke klar. Den havde et gråt som i Danmark. Først om aftenen var det viftet bort og og luften skinnede gennemsigtig og klar. Den syntes tre gange så høj som hjemme.

Organiser

JAC - JRC Mountain Club

Did you know that...

...its highest natural point in Denmark is Møllehøj, which is 170.86 m above sea level (every centimetre counts!)

...Danish Author H.C. Andersen visited the west side of Lago Maggiore on his first trip abroad in 1833 and wrote his first impressions in his diary, later sharing these in his biography book The Fairy Tale of my Life published in 1855