Ispra, the “Walk of Love” with the furnaces and other trails
This scenic and evocative “Walk of Love” is located in Ispra, near Varese (Italy). Here’s what to see in about two hours.

It’s a trail to be taken with comfortable shoes and carrying a water bottle, as there are no refreshment points.
It’s not suitable for everyone as some points are challenging, with steep stairs and slightly difficult passages.
There are parking spots scattered everywhere, some paid, some with time disks, and some free.

Once you’ve parked your car, walk along Lungolago Amerigo Vespucci, where the trail begins right after the Infopoint.
On the wall to the right, you’ll see colorful tiles displaying the winning love poems from the literary contest held over the years.

Continue a few meters and descend to the left, where the walk partly runs along the lakeshore.
A staircase on the right leads to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Maggiore and its surroundings.
A stretch of road, initially paved and then gravelly, runs alongside some villas where you can catch a glimpse of a kiln inside.
Shortly after, a path on the right leads to the wooden staircase immersed in the forest, where you’ll reach the disused Salvalada kiln (1), as well as others along the route.

Continue straight ahead until reaching the intersection, then turn left, reaching the turnaround square.
Here, a challenging staircase descends towards the lakeshore, where you’ll find the Punta Kiln (2), ideal for a break.

The path then leads to the Pinett Kiln (3) with its very characteristic footbridge.
Shortly after, you’ll find yourself back at the Salvalada Kiln (1).
Descend the wooden staircase again and continue straight ahead on the road, reaching the center of Ispra in front of the Church of San Martino.
Just before the church, treat yourself to a well-deserved ice cream break at the gelateria on the right.
Tip: On hot summer days, it’s better to take the walk early in the morning.
The kilns of Ispra
In past times, the village had a tradition of limestone extraction, but the processing of lime was carried out only through small kilns.
Typically, these kilns were located a short distance from the lakeshore and docks, where barges docked to transport the material along waterways to Milan.
The extraction activity reached its peak for several decades, but with the advancement of technological progress, this activity was suppressed.
The closure of the last kiln dates back to around 1960.
Today, you can still see whitish patches visible from afar, evidence of extraction on the slopes of the hill, which always show signs of the miners’ struggle against the rock.
Many of the old kilns surrounding the two hills of Ispra have collapsed due to the passage of time or due to human action.
Some of these have been creatively transformed into splendid private residences.

