Monte San Giorgio geo-paleontological route

The starting point of the educational route is the idyllic village of Meride, where a visit to the Fossil Museum is recommended. Here a rich collection of fossil remains of flora and fauna from Monte San Giorgio is exhibited. 

A few minutes on foot leads to the Val Mara panoramic terrace. It is an outdoor classroom in the woods, just above the Gaggiolo stream. Enriched with binoculars and numerous educational contents, it is aimed at a mixed audience of adults and young people. 

Continuing along the cantonal road, sequentially, the hamlets of Fontana and Spinirolo are crossed. From here the forest path is taken, crossing the Mürgala meadow and reaching the Crocefisso area. A little further on, the Carpanee educational classroom is reached: an outdoor station immersed in the woods, accessible to everyone, day and night, all year round. From here you continue uphill reaching Serpiano. 

Then you follow the asphalt road leading to the upper station of the cable car going from Brusino Arsizio (285 m asl) to Serpiano station (650 m asl). Then you proceed slightly uphill on a forest road towards an ancient alpine pasture surrounded by centuries-old chestnut trees: the Alpe di Brusino (673 m asl), where you can rest in a historic grotto. Continuing you will reach an exceptional panoramic point with a view spanning from Monte Generoso to Lake Lugano. The path then continues towards Gaggio (771 m asl). 

Here, you turn on a narrower path towards Pozzo (812 m asl) and continue descending to Albertina, in the Riva San Vitale area. You then climb back up and conclude the route again at Meride. 

A series of explanatory panels scattered along the route will illustrate in detail the history of this extraordinary place.