Magiaiga Itinerary
- Trail Conditions: On foot
The itinerary leaves from Ara, a country hamlet of Grignasco, village of ancient origins built on a terraced area in the south of Mt. Fenera, after the flood occurred between the 13th and 14th century which destroyed the previously existing settlement situated on the banks of river Sesia.
From the car park at the entrance of the town, follow downhill the old pebbled pedestrian road until you will reach Jannetti mill, an old factory that has been recently renovated, adjacent to Novara-Varallo railway line, where you will start following rio Magiaiga, a left tributary of river Sesia collecting the waters of the homonymous valley.
After crossing the torrent, follow the left bank until you reach the abandoned hopper cars for the transport of limestone coming from Colombino quarry, a site used until the early 1960s for the production of lime and crushed stone. Then cross the bridge on the torrent near a small waterfall and continue upstream across the hygrophilous woodland.
At a few meters from a concrete structure used for the collection of water, cross again a wooden bridge and take an uphill trail leading, across a heliophilous woodland, to the recreational area from where, following the downhill trail, you will reach the entrance of Ara caves, characterized by a dozen meter high natural arch of calcareous rock.
Return to the road leading to the country hamlet touching San Grato small church and, near the washing trough, take the uphill road crossing the country hamlet (café and restaurant are situated at a few dozen meters).
Following via Martiri della Libertà, you will find yourself in a small square. On the right, a steep paved uphill trail leads to Sant'Agata Church and to Faro della Libertà, where you can enjoy the wonderful panorama over lower Valsesia, Valsessera, and the river.
