{"id":1654,"date":"2026-05-20T15:15:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.semedifaggio.com\/blue-ring-9-km-of-nature-murals-and-useless-ramblings\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:29:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T18:29:18","slug":"blue-ring-9-km-of-nature-murals-and-useless-ramblings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.semedifaggio.com\/en\/blue-ring-9-km-of-nature-murals-and-useless-ramblings\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Ring of Ameno: 9 km of nature, murals and uninvited deer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Blue Ring of Ameno: what it is and where to find it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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The Blue Ring of Ameno<\/strong> is a 9 km loop trail<\/strong> in the municipality of Ameno, Piedmont, on the hills overlooking Lake Orta<\/strong>. It is part of the Quadrifoglio di Ameno<\/strong> hiking system \u2014 four colour-coded routes for exploring woods, historic villages, churches and lake views. The Blue Ring is the most complete of the four: it takes in Vacciago, Legro, Orta San Giulio and Miasino<\/strong>, with an elevation gain the knees will remember for a long time. Affectionately, one hopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First things first: strategic breakfast (and self-awareness)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The golden rule of every wise hiker? Don\u2019t fall for a breakfast buffet before a 9 km walk. At B&B Seme di Faggio<\/strong>, I learned to stop before the point of no return: a coffee, a slice of homemade cake (small, I swear), and off we go\u2014ready to tackle the Blue Ring of Ameno<\/strong>. Today\u2019s menu includes trails, art, murals, churches, and an uphill climb that will make you reconsider every past decision regarding food portions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blue Ring route: stops, breaks and existential dilemmas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We set off from Piazza Marconi<\/strong>, in front of the Ameno Town Hall, with the classic question: “Did I lock the car?” Once past that existential hurdle, we head towards Vacciago, briefly sharing the path with the Celeste Ring<\/a> \u2014 so it doesn’t feel left out.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vacciago and the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Vacciago we encounter the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate<\/strong>, which offers a panoramic viewpoint over Lake Orta and an excellent opportunity to pretend you’re contemplating the landscape while actually catching your breath. Nobody will ever admit it, but everyone does it.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legro: the village of cinema murals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From Vacciago we descend to Legro<\/strong>, which looks like a perfectly ordinary Piedmontese village \u2014 until you notice that every single house is covered in murals dedicated to cinema<\/strong>. A sort of Cannes Film Festival without the red carpet and with considerably more pigeons. Between a Fellini quote and a portrait of Proietti, we reach Piazza della Fontana<\/strong>: the perfect set for a Wes Anderson<\/a> film, but with more dampness.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Legro is one of Italy’s most original villages: every fa\u00e7ade is a film frame, every alley a scene. You visit it slowly \u2014 not out of laziness, but out of artistic respect.<\/p> \n<\/blockquote><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Orta San Giulio: the watercolour dream<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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We carry on to Orta San Giulio<\/strong>, a village that looks like a watercolour dream. One could visit Villa Crespi here, but you have to choose: either you do the visit or you make it to the end of the route alive. After a brief internal struggle, we press on. For those who’d like a few spoilers about the village, here’s all the magic of Orta San Giulio<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The climb towards Miasino: the moment of truth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The climb towards Miasino<\/strong> is the moment when the knees start sending in their invoice. For distraction, we stop at the Church of San Rocco<\/strong> and then in front of Villa Nigra<\/strong>, a historic residence that hosts events and art exhibitions \u2014 including the celebrated Miasino Classic Jazz Festival<\/a>. Sadly, there is no vernissage with a free buffet, so we move on.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Those wishing to combine the hike with a botanical detour will find the Giardino dei Semplici di Miasino<\/a> just nearby: around 100 species of medicinal and aromatic herbs, with Albert Husband as guide. Highly recommended \u2014 especially if the legs still have something left to give.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final kilometres: deer and satisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Last few kilometres through woods and trails, with the sudden appearance of three deer \u2014 looking as though they’d been placed there specifically for a National Geographic documentary. After 9 km, we return to Ameno with the quiet pride of someone who has seen wonderful things, and the firm conviction that tomorrow’s only walk will be from the sofa to the fridge.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Technical trail info<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For those who prefer numbers to stories \u2014 and no one judges you for it \u2014 here are the essential details of the Blue Ring of Ameno<\/strong>:<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n