Two routes lead to the lesser-known treasures of Mese, to be admired on a beautiful walk. Well-signposted and accessible on foot, they offer a different approach to the resources of the municipality to observe unknown views, somewhat hidden frescoes, and historic buildings.
The Via della Val Grande
We start from the large hydroelectric power plant, built in the town in 1927 and inaugurated by Prince Umberto of Savoy. The building is now an integral part of Mese’s urban planning.
Its construction was celebrated by the press of the time. Even today, this is the largest plant in the province. Not far away, the church of San Vittore, whose first written traces date back to 1100, recalls the devotion towards the Roman soldier who came martyred in Milan in the 3rd century. The Stampa building is another example of a farmhouse in Mese. Note the beautiful clock face with a diameter of one meter, which stands out on the facade.

The Via dei Crotti and Böc.
You walk from Fontanin to Crotti di Scandolera. The route offers various views of the town, telling the story of the most representative corners.
Like the fresco of the Blessed Virgin of Health, dating back to 1871, which is still clearly visible today on the facade of Casa Dell’Acqua at 65 via Scandolera. A devotion that was brought to Mese by the emigrants to Venice once they returned to the valley. The “casin”, however, was the home of the curate. The decorations still visible on the facade suggest that the building dates back to the early 1800s. Not far away is the delightful baroque portal that decorates the entrance door of what was the house of the Notary Prevostini (1798). Mese celebrated the tradition of the Milk Cooperative, founded by Don Primo Lucchinetti, with a museum that tells the story of its production. Mese, like many other towns in the valley, has a lot to tell. Take the time to do it. It’s worth it.

Samolaco owes its name to the geographical location at the northern end of Lake Como. In the past, the village must have been built near the ruins of the church of Saint John all’Archetto, where the remains of lime kilns are still visible today. The Via Francisca, the continuation of the Via Regina, also passed through there. Thanks to these routes, we reached Chiavenna and proceeded through the passes beyond the Alpine chain.
What to see in  Samolaco.
Now, walking along the historical paths, you come across testimonies of the past preserved in the old buildings, in the ruins of San Giovanni all ́Archetto, in the church of S.Andrea al Colle, in the Culumbée Tower or in the Cà Pipéta.
If you take short detours, you reach Monastero, Stalla, Fontanedo, Ronco, and Paiedo. In addition to those already mentioned, there are still many ancient centers to be valorized: the old part of Era (Cuéta), Casenda, Vigazzuolo, and the remains of the abandoned farmhouses halfway up the hill (Cusciago, Piazza, Macolino, Piazza Bedogna).

VIA FRANCISCA
The historic route constitutes the continuation of the ancient Via Regina (from Como to the upper Lario, right bank) and reaches Chiavenna, keeping to the right side of the Valley.
From the Tempietto di S. Fedelino, you go up along the course of the Mera river until you reach the large fan of the Meriggiana and Casenda streams, which, with their floods, decreed the end of the ancient nucleus. The path continues up to Vigazzuolo. After crossing the Casenda stream, you reach the village of the same name and climb up to the moraine terraces.
Continue towards Luoghi, Sassello, Schenone, and Prona to reach the church of S. Pietro, just beyond the medieval Culumbée tower. From here, you follow a path that goes down to the Riverina crossroads and continue up to the Cesura plain.
Take a comfortable and wide path and cross the bridge that crosses the final course of the Boggia stream. You pass Gordona and continue beyond Mese, concluding the route at the Postaiolo bridge, at the entrance to the Spluga Valley.

An enormous esplanade between Lake Como, Val Chiavenna, and Valtellina to immerse yourself in nature and observe it in all its beauty. Reachable by car but also by train, the Pian di Spagna Nature Reserve is a truly suggestive destination if you love walking or riding a cycle touring bike. It extends over an area of approximately 1500 hectares, at an altitude of 200 meters, between Lake Como, Val Chiavenna, and Valtellina; it is a protected area belonging to the European Ecological Network “Natura 2000”; this means that this Reserve stands out, as we will see, for the presence of a great variety of animal and plant species, as well as habitats and ecosystems to be safeguarded.

This enormous esplanade between Lake Como, Val Chiavenna, and Valtellina was once an expanse of water: in Roman times, in fact, Lake Como and Lake Mezzola were united. As time passed, however, the debris transported by the Adda River due to frequent floods formed the current Pian di Spagna. And when, following a reclamation operation, the canalization of the Adda basin was revised, the hydrogeological situation could be considered resolved.

One of the strengths of this Reserve is its complex ecosystem, which features reed beds, marshy areas, meadows, and still cultivated areas. Not to mention the landscape aspect: just consider that in its extension, there are three different mountain chains (Mount Berlinghera in the Lepontine Alps to the north-west, the Rhaetian Alps which embrace the Valle dei Ratti and Val Codera to the north-east, Mount Legnone to the south) and three different lakes: Lake Dascio, part of Lake Como and Lake Mezzola.

What you can see in this Reserve will definitely exceed your expectations. As regards the flora, the marsh reeds (Phragmites australis) are accompanied by the common cattail (Typha latifolia), water lilies (Nymphaea alba), and maneuvers (Nuphar lutea). In the most humid areas, everything is surrounded by willow, alder, and poplar woods.

Freshwater fish such as pike, perch, trout, and eels abound in the waters of the numerous canals. Frogs and toads populate the ponds, while among the mammals, there is no shortage of various undergrowth animals, as well as foxes, hares, and a small population of deer.

Suppose you would like to dedicate some of your time to bird watching. In Reserve, there is a multitude of birds: over 24 species of aquatic birds and another 200 different species of migrated birds.

With at least five days’ notice, it is possible to organize excursions in the Pian di Spagna Nature Reserve. Among the main routes and practicable paths, there is the one that leaves from Dascio to reach the Tempietto of San Fedelino in Sorico, accessible to all and lasting approximately 3 hours; a circular route with arrival and departure from the town of Beletrone, which winds inside the Reserve; the one that from Ponte del Passo to Sasso di Dascio allows you to observe a large number of aquatic birds and that allows you to enjoy a panorama of Lake Mezzola: the one that from Trivio di Fuentes, near the Ponte sull’Adda, allows you to arrive also by bicycle to Cascina Lodoletta, and which gives you the opportunity to see the Fuentes fort.