Lecchese

<< Lombardy

The Province of Lecco includes the eastern shore of Lake Como and the surrounding hills and mountains. Here are several popular lakeside resorts, including Lecco, and various beautiful towns among the hills.

Lecco

Lecco is a city located at the end of the southeastern branch of Lake Como. The town emerged during the Middle Ages and it was ruled by Milan for centuries. Lecco expanded during the 18th century, and later became an important industrial and cultural center. The city is known today for its beautiful environment and for being the set of The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni.

Basilica of San Nicolò

The Basilica of San Nicolò is the most important religious site in Lecco. The church was built starting in the Late Middle Ages and was later expanded several times. The basilica features a Neoclassical facade and its interiors house various artworks and decorations. The bell tower of the church is one of the tallest in Italy, standing at an height of 96 meters.

Lecco Promenade

The long promenade of Lecco runs along the shores of Lake Como and it features various attractions. Among these are a few monuments, such as the large Monument to the Fallen (Monumento ai Caduti), erected during the 1920s. Palazzo delle Paure is a historic palace located along the promenade, and it houses exhibitions on local art and mountaineering.

Visconti Tower

The Visconti Tower (Torre Viscontea) is a medieval tower located in the center of Lecco, once forming part of a larger fortification which was demolished in the 18th century. The tower now houses a museum dedicated to local mountaineering.

Palazzo Belgiojoso

Palazzo Belgiojoso is an 18th-century palace in Lecco which houses some local museums. The Archaeological Museum of Lecco (Museo Archeologico di Lecco) is hosted here, and it features a range of findings spanning from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. The palace also houses the Historical Museum (Museo Storico), focused on the history of the city, and the Museum of Natural History (Museo di Storia Naturale), dedicated to the local natural environment. The Civic Planetarium of Lecco (Planetario Civico di Lecco) is also located here.

Villa Manzoni

Villa Manzoni is a Neoclassical villa in Lecco, and the former residence of Alessandro Manzoni, who spent most of his youth here. The villa now serves as a museum dedicated to the famous writer, housing numerous documents, artworks, memorabilia, and ancient furnishings.

Ponte Azzone Visconti

Also known as: Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Azzone Visconti is a historic bridge on the Adda river in Lecco, and one of the most famous landmarks in the city. Originally erected in the 14th century, the bridge has been restored and reworked several times, surviving numerous wars.

Vercurago

Vercurago is a small town located on the shores of Lake Garlate south of Lecco. It is best known for its castle.

Castello dell’Innominato

Castello dell’Innominato is a castle located on a mountain overlooking Vercurago. Built during the Late Middle Ages, it was for centuries an important fortification but it was later heavily damaged. The castle is best known for being the inspiration for the residence of the Innominato in The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni. Adjacent to the castle is the Sacro Monte di Somasca, a religious complex erected between the 19th and 20th century featuring various decorated chapels and a church.

Olginate

Olginate is a town located on the shores of a small lake along the Adda river south of Lecco.

Consonno

Consonno is a ghost town located on a mountain overlooking Olginate. Originally a small community, in the 1960s the entire village was acquired by an entrepreneur that wanted to transform it into an ideal “city of toys” and tourist attraction. The complex was expanded with various hotels, restaurants, and other buildings, forcing the inhabitants to leave the village. Consonno initially attracted many tourists but it later declined, and the continuous expansion damaged the local environment. The town was abandoned after a series of landslides in the 1970s and any attempt at recovering the site failed. Consonno now features the ruins of some buildings, and the area is deemed unsafe.

Civate

Civate is a small town located at the foot of the hills near Lake Annone, southwest of Lecco.

Abbey of San Pietro al Monte

The Abbey of San Pietro al Monte (Abbazia di San Pietro al Monte) is a religious complex located on top of a mountain overlooking Civate. Founded in the 8th century as an hermitage, it was expanded during the 11th century. The abbey features a Romanesque church with numerous ancient decorations and a series of well preserved medieval frescoes and artworks. Thanks to its position, the abbey offers a great view on the surrounding area.

Varenna

Varenna is a small town located on the eastern shores of Lake Como in the Province of Lecco. The village is known for its beauty and it is a popular tourist destination.

Vezio Castle

The Vezio Castle is a medieval fortress located on a mountain overlooking Varenna. Built around the 11th century, it was reworked several times and restored in the 20th century. Now open to the public, it features a few peculiar statues, a museum dedicated to local fossils, and it offers a great view on Lake Como and the surrounding mountains.

Villa Monastero

Villa Monastero is a lakeside villa in Varenna. The site was originally occupied by a monastery, which was later turned into a villa. The structure was later completely reworked in eclectic style, and the new villa was inaugurated in 1909. The villa now serves as a museum, which houses various scientific instruments, and it is surrounded by a park hosting various sculptures and other attractions.

Dervio

Dervio is a small town located on the eastern shore of the northern branch of Lake Como, in the Province of Lecco. It is a tourist destination thanks to its position.

Corenno Plinio

Corenno Plinio is a tiny medieval village located along the shores of Lake Como just north of Dervio. The small town features a few historic landmarks, such as the Corenno Plinio Castle (or Andreani Castle), erected during the Late Middle Ages. The Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury (Chiesa di San Tommaso di Canterbury) is adjacent to the castle and it features the Andriani Tombs (Arche Andriani), three Gothic funerary monuments built in the 14th century.

Colico

Colico is a town located along the shores of the northern branch of Lake Como, in the Province of Lecco. Thanks to its position, it was a place of strategic importance throughout the Middle Ages and the Modern era, and now it is a tourist destination.

Piona Abbey

The Piona Abbey (Abbazia di Piona) is a medieval religious complex built at the edge of a small peninsula in Lake Como, near Colico. Originally founded in the 7th century, the complex was later expanded. The abbey features a Romanesque church housing various decorations and medieval frescoes.

Fort Fuentes

Fort Fuentes is a ruined 17th-century fort near Colico. Built by the Spanish when they ruled over Lombardy, it was later deemed as useless and largely demolished in 1796. Now protected as a historic site, the ruins of the fort can be visited.

Fort Montecchio Nord

Also known as: Fort Montecchio-Lusardi

Fort Montecchio Nord is a military fort built just before World War I near Colico. The fort is the best preserved Italian fort from the early 20th century, and it still features its original buildings and weapons. The fort now serves as a museum.