Erbonne is a part of the comune of San Fedele Intelvi, in the province of Como. The village is located at 940 meters above sea level and is located on the left side of Breggia River, on the highest portion of the Breggia, which in Switzerland it’s called the Valle di Muggio. It consists of 52 buildings and a few other farmhouses, other buildings housing use to protect animals in winter and typical stone houses of the Alpe: Squadrina Erada, Ca’s Monda, Genzago ‘s, Pesciò ‘s and Orimento ‘s, are all enclosed in the Valley. From Erbonne it’s easy to access to Switzerland on foot or by mountain bike over a bridge, which leads to Scudellate, village which is about 1 kilometer far. The nearest Italian country is Casasco d’Intelvi (6 miles by road). In Erbonne area and more exactly in the cave Generosa (known as bear’s Cave for the discovery of remains of the extinct cave bear dating back to 40,000 years ago) have been found pieces attributed to Neanderthals dating between 50 and 60,000 years ago. You can visit the small Museum of the Guardia di Finanza and smuggling which is located in the tiny barracks outside the town on old route which communicates with the Swiss settlement Scudellate. You can’t enter to the Museum physically, cause of its small size, but through small windows items can be observed from outside from the time when smuggling was a livelihood for local people. In August 2012, there were only 9 inhabitants.
Tips
The only way to get there is by car or mountain bike but you can’t enter the village, you’ll have to park your car at the entrance of the village and go to 500 meters walk.
It is advisable to bring sports shoes to avoid slipping on the stone or on the lawn because if you want to go to the bridge that communicates with Switzerland you have to do it coming down the mountain on the lawn, in full nature.
It is advisable to make the visit during the day because the road is very winding and in some places is difficult to pass if you find yourself with a car in the opposite direction. The use of the horn is strongly recommended.
Bring a sweater because the temperature will be cooler in the mountains.
