The gulf of Quassa is an inlet that extends between Ispra and Ranco on the shores of Lake Maggiore and has recently became PLIS (Local Park of Supra-municipal Interest).
The simple itinerary starts from Ispra, where you can park your car, and immediately goes down towards the Lakeside Amerigo Vespucci from which you can enjoy a view of the panoramic park of the Quassa. Just before the lakeside you can see the massive mausoleum of Castelbarco, built in the second half of the 1800.
The entire promenade runs along Lake Maggiore, meeting a Sulphurous Fountain at a point, which is situated on the lake shore.
Following the dirt road you can see the façade of the historic Villa Quassa, now private property, and after that a wooden bridge which connects Ispra with Ranco.
After crossing the little bridge over the Acqua Negra Canal (also known as Rio Quassa), return to the lake shore to reach Sasso Cavallazzo (or Sass Cavalàsc), a colossal erratic boulder that takes its name from the vague form a horse’s head, where the path ends.
At this point you can reach the center of Ranco in just a few minutes or make the same path to return to Ispra.
DETAILS:
- Duration: 1 h
- Distance: 4 km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Altitude: 0 mt
- Starting point: Ispra
- Arrival point: Sasso Cavallazzo
- Parking: yes
