Monte Resegone

An undisputed symbol of the city of Lecco and the iconic profile of the Bergamasque Prealps, Monte Resegone (also known as Monte Serrada, 1875 m a.s.l.) is far more than a geographical landmark; it is a pillar of the Italian collective imagination. Straddling the border between the provinces of Lecco and Bergamo, its everlasting fame is owed to the pen of Alessandro Manzoni, who immortalised its silhouette in the opening pages of The Betrothed (I promessi sposi), describing it as a ridge of “many peaks in a row” that truly make it resemble a saw.

An architecture of rock and light

The name itself, an Italianisation of the Lombard term resegun (large saw), celebrates its unmistakable serrated morphology. Geologically, the massif is formed of Main Dolomite (Dolomia Principale), a specific sedimentary rock that offers a unique spectacle: at sunset, the peaks catch the sun’s rays, turning a striking shade of pink that dominates the horizon. The mountain presents two distinct faces: the Lecco side is rugged, vertical, and steep, while the Bergamo side (Valle Imagna and Val Taleggio) slopes down with much gentler gradients.

The crown of summits and Rifugio Azzoni

The ridge of the Resegone is a succession of peaks winding from north to south, creating its celebrated profile. The highest point is Punta Cermenati (1875 m), topped by a historic iron cross inaugurated in 1925 and an altar consecrated in 1981 by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini. Just below the summit stands the famous Rifugio Luigi Azzoni, the destination for those wishing to admire a 360-degree panorama stretching from the Brianza lakes to the Alps. Among the thirteen main summits, many bear the names of illustrious figures from Lecco or reflect their particular shape.

Hiking: from Piani d’Erna to the via ferratas

Resegone offers experiences for every level. For those seeking a day of relaxation, Piani d’Erna is the ideal gateway: a tourist resort on the Lecco side served by a convenient cable car, allowing for a unique high-altitude experience that remains easily accessible.

For trekking enthusiasts, Trail No. 1, starting from Versasio (Lecco), is the classic route: a long and scenic itinerary that requires good physical fitness. Those preferring an easier ascent can opt for the paths starting from Morterone, from which the summit can be reached in about an hour and a half via a relatively simple walk. For experts, the mountain offers steep channels and historic via ferratas such as Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, considered among the most challenging and spectacular in the region.

The connection between Monte Resegone and the surrounding territory is so deep that a building restriction known as the “Servitù del Resegone” once existed in Milan; this regulation prevented buildings from being constructed too high to avoid obscuring the view of this mountain, so dear to the Milanese and celebrated by Manzoni.