Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
26 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
26 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
26 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
26 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Como Scala del Paradiso

Scala del Paradiso

This trail was once used to smuggle cigarettes, sugar, and other black market goods between Italy and Switzerland.

Como, Italy

Added By
Becca Glatz
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  carininet / CC BY 2.0
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Spina Verde regional park is located just steps away from the resort town of Como, Lombardy, Italy. It spans the border with Switzerland (where it is called Parco del Penz), allowing hikers to cross back and forth between the two countries. Inside the park, visitors can follow trails like the Scala del Paradiso (Stairway to Heaven) that were once used by smugglers to bring cigarettes, sugar, and black market wealth to these poor communities back in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Through much of the 20th century, Lake Como was home to a prosperous smuggling industry. Italian police patrolled the border, and were known to be harsh on those caught bringing illicit goods into the country. But smugglers were often seen as local heroes, and a few remnants of their activities remain. The Scala del Paradiso is made up of more than 900 stone steps, which carve out a path from the top of Cavallasca Hill down to the town of Ponte Chiasso, flanking the border. The staircase was originally built for use by the border guards, but it wound up being used by smugglers as well.

The park was also the site of trenches and other military works built during World War I, which you can still find, though there was no fighting here. The views of Lake Como and the surrounding Italian and Swiss countryside are incredible.

Related Tags

Black Markets Hiking Trails Parks
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

beccaglatz

Edited By

Max Cortesi, Michelle Cassidy

  • Max Cortesi
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

August 23, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.ciaocomo.it/2020/01/20/la-scala-del-paradiso-ponte-chiasso-piu-900-gradini-nella-spina-verde/190182/
Scala del Paradiso
Via Alfonso Oldelli, 5
Como, 22100
Italy
45.827118, 9.039819
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Tempio Voltiano

Como, Italy

miles away

Roman Baths of Como

Como, Italy

miles away

Balcony of Italy (Balcone d'Italia)

Lanzo D'intelvi, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Como

Como

Italy

Places 3

Nearby Places

Tempio Voltiano

Como, Italy

miles away

Roman Baths of Como

Como, Italy

miles away

Balcony of Italy (Balcone d'Italia)

Lanzo D'intelvi, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Como

Como

Italy

Places 3

Related Places

  • Water rushes through the upper reaches of the scar.

    Westmorland and Furness, England

    Ewbank Scar

    Water demonstrates its carving power along a Cumbrian trail.

  • The water tank

    Oxford, England

    Slade Camp

    A lost World War II military camp and post-war suburb swallowed by the woods.

  • A wall of sandstone with a small opening

    Covington, Indiana

    Portland Arch

    One of Indiana's only natural sandstone arches is nestled between resort ruins and an old Boy Scouts camp.

  • The hermitage.

    Italy

    Hermitage of Saint Onuphrius

    A two-hour hike in the Orfento Valley leads to the remote ruins.

  • View of the valley from the homestead.

    Tucson, Arizona

    Bowen Stone House Ruins

    The remains of this rugged homestead ranch offer a brief glimpse into a bygone era.

  • The view of the Blue Ridge Mountains here is spectacular.

    Canton, North Carolina

    Black Balsam Knob

    On a clear afternoon, you can see mountain peaks more than 40 miles away from this clearing in the Pisgah National Forest.

  • Overlooking Mamurra’s villa and baths.

    Formia, Italy

    Parco Naturale Regionale di Gianola e Monte di Scauri

    This little visited park is a treasure trove of ancient Roman ruins.

  • Bordeaux twin city garden celebrating Casablanca

    Bordeaux, France

    Twin Cities Gardens

    These gardens whisk you away to Japan and Morocco—without leaving Bordeaux.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.