The village of Gravedona, its ancient paper mills, the church of Saints Gusmeo and Matthew and Santa Maria delle Grazie.

From the Infopoint go to the right, until you cross the Crai supermarket. This beautiful building was once a paper-mill, later purchased by Salice, a famous sports eyewear manufacturer. 
Immediately after the supermarket, you go up Suganappa Street, where you can rent electric bicycles from E-moves rent e-bikes.

Continue the walk keeping the lake on your right, toward the historic center of Gravedona. The picturesque dominant silhouette of Palazzo Gallio will accompany your walk. 
On the lakefront you will see many bars and ice cream parlors with outdoor tables. You will also find the pier on your right, and finally you come to the ice cream shop La Carapiña and the adjacent Wine Fashion Café. 

You are now in the small historic square of Gravedona, called Prà Castello, where an imposing 15th-century structure is clearly visible; it incorporates a small deconsecrated church, the property of the Gravedonese nobles Motti. This was the real beating heart of old Gravedona. The deconsecrated little church is called the Church of Our Lady of Soledad. Read more about it HERE. 

From this square you go up the very small street via Carate, passing under a portico with the sign Società Operaria Gravedona (working class society). The historic sign reminds us of the poor origins of these lands: indeed, this was a community deeply linked to the industrial fabric and saw these after-work associations as an opportunity for socializing and recreation at the end of the labors spent in the factory. These associations were also often mutual aid societies, an early idea of organized social assistance. 

Well, going up the street, after a few meters, enter the first alley on the right: a magical view of a small stream and a crib will open up to you. It’s a real leap back in time! 
We return to via Carate and continue uphill, keeping to the left and following the main road that curves to the right, becoming Via Sale. A yellow building with classic shed roof appears: it is another old Gravedonese paper-mill, the Cima paper-mill. The papermaking tradition in Gravedona has ancient origins; think of the fact that here, in the early 1900s, a special cardboard was produced for the production of soles, which was even used to make shoes by Italian soldiers during World War I. The industrialist Giovanni Cima made part of these paper-mills available to the motorboat builder Timossi, and together they began to produce racing cars. Giovanni also became a great driver: his challenges with Eugenio Molinari and Tullio Abbate were simply legendary. He also won the famous 1982 Pavia Venezia, one of the most important raids in the world, with a CIMA- TIMOSSI hull powered by Bpm. 

We have arrived on state highway ss340. Now turn right and after 50 meters climb the steps on our left to reach the beautiful and mighty Church of Saints Gusmeo and Matthew. Legend has it that the church stands on the site of the martyrdom of the two saints, who were beheaded by order of Emperor Maximian in 1248. (Read the history and description of this church HERE) Continue up the cobblestone road, Via Convento, to reach the Church Santa Maria delle Grazie and its splendid lake view. The church, which also houses the Augustinian convent, now used as a library, was built in 1467 thanks to the contribution of Galeazzo Sforza. Read the full story HERE.