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The Grà festival in Brinzio: Martica, Chiusarella and the village's roasted chestnuts

Brinzio, Varese · Lombardia•1 day · Sunday•Hiking · 1,032 m
Experience
Day hikes
Difficulty ?
INTERMEDIATE
Where?
Varese, Lombardia
On your own?
No problem
Points
+16
The Grà festival in Brinzio: Martica, Chiusarella and the village's roasted chestnuts
Community photos
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Guiddy Experience
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS HIKE

Brinzio: the Grà festival

Smoke-dried chestnuts threshed by hand as in the old days, hot mondelle roasted chestnuts and a ridge of golden woods above Varese: the Grà festival in Brinzio is the autumn of the Varese Pre-Alps.

Group chat a couple of days before
Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

We set off with the Guidders from Brinzio and climb through the woods to Punta Rossotti and Monte Martica, with the Varese lakes below us. We follow the ridge to Monte Chiusarella, where we have lunch, and come back down via Passo Varrò into the village, just in time for the festival: chestnut threshing on the grà, roasted mondelle and local produce.

The grà is the chestnut drying hut: for weeks a slow fire dried them on racks, then they were threshed to remove the skins and ground into flour for the winter.

Anyone who walks regularly: a few steep stretches in the woods, no difficult passages.

Come to the Grà festival with the Guidders: a tradition to live, not just to watch.

Brinzio is about an hour from Milan: motorway to Varese, then the road through Rasa and the Campo dei Fiori to the village. Car pooling in the outing's Telegram group.

GOOD TO KNOW
Group chat
It opens a couple of days before: that's where the meeting point is confirmed and carpooling is arranged.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before
For the selected date: by 21 October, 23:59. You pay nothing when you book.
Guiddy accident insurance
Included in the price.
+16 Guiddy points
Your points grow with every outing, level you up and unlock discounts, exclusive outings and goodies.
Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
Included in the price.
Not suitable for dogs
This time your dog stays at home.

How hard is it, really

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
650 m D+ · 11 km · 4 h
Exposure and exposed sections
NONE
No exposed sections reported on the route.
VERTIGO RISK
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 4 h and 650 m of ascent ahead, if you go to the mountains a couple of times a month, you're fit enough
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, 1.5 litres of water and a headlamp: the days are getting shorter, plus poles. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish

What's included in the price

✓INCLUDED
✓Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
✓Guiddy accident insurance
✕NOT INCLUDED
✕Packed lunch
✕Parking
✕Local food tasting
✕Travel to Brinzio
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.

Itinerary

One day, approximate times. The final details come in the group chat.

Elevation gain
650 m
Max altitude
1,032 m
Distance
11 km
Duration
4 h
Sunday
25 Oct
11 km · D+ 650 m · 4 h
Map
The stops · 11 km
Meeting point 9:30approximate
Meeting at Brinzio, Brinzio, provincia di Varese, Italia. The exact time is confirmed in the group chat. We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
HOW TO GET THERE
09:30MEETING
Meeting at Brinzio
We meet the Guidders in Brinzio, the festival village.
11:00SUMMIT
Punta Rossotti
We leave the woods at the first viewpoint.
11:20SUMMIT
Monte Martica
The summit with the Varese lakes below us.
12:30SUMMIT
Monte Chiusarella
Along the ridge to the last top: packed lunch.
13:30PASS
Passo Varrò
We descend through the woods towards the village.
14:30RETURN
The Grà festival
Into the village for the chestnut threshing and roasted mondelle: goodbyes to the Guidders at the festival.

How do you get to Brinzio? By carpooling.

You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group. Contacts and costs are agreed between you: a seat isn't guaranteed.

WHO'S ALREADY GOING
for the selected date
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.

What to bring

A list made for this hike. No technical gear: just good shoes and a well-packed backpack.

Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Layered clothing
REQUIRED
Trekking poles
RECOMMENDED
Warm gloves
RECOMMENDED
Warm hat
RECOMMENDED
Thermal shirt
RECOMMENDED
Sunglasses
RECOMMENDED
Camera
RECOMMENDED

Guiddy Experience

Sunday 25 October
GuiddyExperience
Hikes picked for you

Guides and coordinators we pick for you.

Reviews

Only from people who completed the outing.
—
no reviews yet
Itinerary—
Organisation—
Overall experience—
Ibex
The first reviews come after the outing
We only ask for feedback from people who were really there.

You'll be among the first to share your story.

Questions?

I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding. You need to be fit enough to walk for 4 h with 650 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Book now, pay only if it goes ahead
MOST POPULAR
✓No charge now: the amount is only held on your card
✓Free cancellation up to 3 days before (for this date: 21 October, 23:59)
✓You're only charged once the group is confirmed, at 7 pm the evening before departure
✓Minimum not reached? No charge, nothing to do
Or pay straight away by card, PayPal, Satispay or Revolut. With Klarna you can also pay in interest-free instalments.
Ibex
Still have questions? Message Ibex
Ibex is Guiddy's virtual ibex: it answers everything, 24/7. In two messages it tells you whether this outing is for you, how to get there and what to pack.
Message Ibex on WhatsApp
No commitment: we're happy to answer even just for advice.
The Grà festival in Brinzio: Martica, Chiusarella and the village's roasted chestnuts

The Grà festival in Brinzio: Martica, Chiusarella and the village's roasted chestnuts

Brinzio, (VA) · Lombardia
1 day · Hiking · 1,032 m
New: you'll be among the first Guidders to do it
Elevation gain
650 m
Max altitude
1,032 m
Distance
11 km
Exposed sections
None
Duration
4 h
Guiddy points
+16
4 photos
WHY THIS HIKE

Brinzio: the Grà festival

Smoke-dried chestnuts threshed by hand as in the old days, hot mondelle roasted chestnuts and a ridge of golden woods above Varese: the Grà festival in Brinzio is the autumn of the Varese Pre-Alps.

Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

We set off with the Guidders from Brinzio and climb through the woods to Punta Rossotti and Monte Martica, with the Varese lakes below us. We follow the ridge to Monte Chiusarella, where we have lunch, and come back down via Passo Varrò into the village, just in time for the festival: chestnut threshing on the grà, roasted mondelle and local produce.

The grà is the chestnut drying hut: for weeks a slow fire dried them on racks, then they were threshed to remove the skins and ground into flour for the winter.

Anyone who walks regularly: a few steep stretches in the woods, no difficult passages.

Come to the Grà festival with the Guidders: a tradition to live, not just to watch.

Brinzio is about an hour from Milan: motorway to Varese, then the road through Rasa and the Campo dei Fiori to the village. Car pooling in the outing's Telegram group.

How hard is it

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
650 m D+ · 11 km · 4 h
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 4 h and 650 m of ascent ahead, if you go to the mountains a couple of times a month, you're fit enough
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, 1.5 litres of water and a headlamp: the days are getting shorter, plus poles. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish

What's included

INCLUDED
✓Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
✓Guiddy accident insurance
NOT INCLUDED
✕Packed lunch
✕Parking
✕Local food tasting
✕Travel to Brinzio

Itinerary

Sunday · approximate times
Map
Stops · 11 km
Meeting point 9:30Meeting at Brinzio
We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
09:30MEETING
Meeting at Brinzio
We meet the Guidders in Brinzio, the festival village.
11:00SUMMIT
Punta Rossotti
We leave the woods at the first viewpoint.
11:20SUMMIT
Monte Martica
The summit with the Varese lakes below us.
12:30SUMMIT
Monte Chiusarella
Along the ridge to the last top: packed lunch.
13:30PASS
Passo Varrò
We descend through the woods towards the village.
14:30RETURN
The Grà festival
Into the village for the chestnut threshing and roasted mondelle: goodbyes to the Guidders at the festival.

How do you get to Brinzio? By carpooling.

You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group.

WHO'S ALREADY GOING
for this date
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.

What to bring

A list made for this hike.
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Layered clothing
REQUIRED
Trekking poles
RECOMMENDED
Warm gloves
RECOMMENDED
Warm hat
RECOMMENDED
Thermal shirt
RECOMMENDED
Sunglasses
RECOMMENDED
Camera
RECOMMENDED

Guiddy Experience

Sunday 25 October
GuiddyExperience
Hikes picked for you

Guides and coordinators we pick for you.

Reviews

— · none yet
Ibex
The first reviews come after the outing
Only from people who were really there.

You'll be among the first to share your story.

Questions?

I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding. You need to be fit enough to walk for 4 h with 650 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Ibex
Still unsure? Message Ibex on WhatsApp →
Sun 25 Oct
€24.90
per person
Book now →
Pay only if confirmed