Comasco

<< Lombardy

The Comasco is the territory of the Province of Como. This area includes the western shore of Lake Como and the hills and mountains between this lake and Lake Lugano, which stretches into Switzerland. Part of Comasco is also the Triangolo Lariano, the territory between the two southern branches of Lake Como. The Comasco houses several beautiful lakeside resorts that are very popular among tourists.

Cernobbio

Cernobbio is a town located on the shores of Lake Como, just north of Como. Once a small village, it has been a popular tourist destination since the 19th century, and it is also famous for hosting many events.

Villa Erba

Villa Erba is a villa erected in the late 19th century near the shores of Lake Como in Cernobbio. The palace is surrounded by gardens, and now it serves as a congress center, having hosted many events. The villa has also often been used as a movie set.

Villa Bernasconi

Villa Bernasconi is an Art Nouveau villa in Cernobbio completed in 1906. The villa now serves as a museum of the Art Nouveau style, and it features elaborate decorations both on the exterior and interior.

Magreglio

Magreglio is a small town located among the mountains of the Province of Como. The village is a tourist destination, especially known for cycling.

Cycling Museum Madonna del Ghisallo

The Ghisallo is a mountain pass near Magreglio, known as a popular destination for cyclists, and often included in cycling races. Over the years, cyclists began leaving some memorabilia at the Sanctuary of Madonna del Ghisallo (Santuario della Madonna del Ghisallo), a small church located here, and this became a tradition. The Cycling Museum Madonna del Ghisallo (Museo del Ciclismo Madonna del Ghisallo) was built next to the church and it hosts many historic bicycles and objects showcasing the history of cycling and cyclists.

Bellagio

Bellagio is a town in the Province of Como located at the northern corner of the Triangolo Lariano, the area between the two southern branches of Lake Como. Inhabited since ancient times, the area was already known for its beauty during the Roman age. The town was important thanks to its strategic position, and it was contested between local powers for centuries. Since the 19th century, Bellagio has turned into a popular tourist destination and it features many historic patrician villas.

Villa Serbelloni

Villa Serbelloni is a villa located on the promontory of Bellagio. A first palace might have been erected here during the Roman age, before being replaced by a medieval fortress. After the castle was demolished, a new villa was built in the 15th century and it was later expanded. Over the centuries, the villa has hosted numerous nobles and famous personalities, and it is now owned by the Rockefeller Foundation. Part of the complex has been turned into a luxury hotel, but the large gardens are open to the public and offer a great view on Lake Como.

Villa Melzi d’Eril

Villa Melzi d’Eril is a lakeside villa in Bellagio, erected in the early 19th century. The villa features various decorations and artworks, and it is surrounded by large gardens. These gardens host numerous rare species of trees and plants, and also feature an Etruscan urn and some Ancient Egyptian statues. The gardens also house a small museum with archaeological ruins and various historic memorabilia, and a Neoclassical chapel with elaborate funerary monuments.

Tremezzina

Tremezzina is a municipality in the Province of Como, located along the shores of Lake Como. Formed after the merger of the towns of Lenno, Mezzegra, Ossuccio, and Tremezzo, it is a tourist destination thanks to its beautiful coast.

✪ Villa del Balbianello

Villa del Balbianello is a villa located at the edge of a promontory in Lake Como, in the municipality of Tremezzina. Erected in the late 18th century on the site of a previous monastery, it hosted many famous personalities, but it later declined. Now restored, the villa offers a great view on the lake and the mountains but it is best known as a movie set for films such as Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale.

Comacina Island

The Comacina Island is a small island in Lake Como, near Ossuccio. This was the site of ancient Roman and medieval fortifications that saw various battles until their destruction in the 12th century. Since then, the island has been uninhabited, and now it features some ancient ruins and a few 20th-century buildings. A small museum in nearby Ossuccio houses some archaeological findings unearthed on the island.

Sacro Monte di Ossuccio

Also known as: Sacro Monte della Beata Vergine del Soccorso

The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio is one of the Sacri Monti of Lombardy and Piedmont, a series of religious complexes built among the mountains of the two regions. The complex includes 14 chapels built between the 17th and 18th century, adorned with numerous statues and Baroque decorations. The sanctuary at the top of the complex was erected in the 16th century and also features various decorations.

Villa Carlotta

Villa Carlotta is a Neoclassical villa built between the 17th and 18th century in Tremezzo. The palace was later reworked and now it hosts a collection of artworks, including various paintings, sculptures, and tapestries. The villa also features a botanical garden with numerous different species of trees and plants.

Alta Valle Intelvi

Alta Valle Intelvi is a municipality in the Province of Como, at the border with Switzerland. The municipality was born from the merger of the small towns of Lanzo d’Intelvi, Pellio Intelvi, and Ramponio Verna.

✪ Balcone d’Italia

Sighignola is a mountain located at the border between Italy and Switzerland. Near the top, there is a panoramic terrace known as Balcone d’Italia (“Balcony of Italy”), located right at the border on the Italian side. This terrace is a famous tourist destination, as it offers a breathtaking view over Lake Lugano and the Alps.

Campione d’Italia

Campione d’Italia is a small town located along the shores of Lake Lugano, and an exclave of Italy surrounded by Switzerland. For centuries it remained a tiny village in a territory contested between local powers. The town became surrounded by Swiss territory when it chose to remain part of Lombardy instead of joining Switzerland with the rest of Ticino. Due to its peculiar position, it is closely integrated with Switzerland.

Campione Casino

The Campione Casino (Casinò di Campione) is one of the only four casinos in Italy, and the largest casino in Europe. Founded in 1917, it moved to a new large building located on the shores of Lake Lugano in 2007. In 2018 the casino was declared bankrupt but, after a series of legal procedures, it reopened in 2022.