Visit Nuova Olonio, Tourism and travel tips

The Horrid of Bellano

Lombardy, the horrid of Bellano

If you like mysterious and disturbing places, try to stop at Lake Lecco, more precisely in Bellano. Preferably go there after a period of heavy rains. After parking the car, go up to the gate and buy the entrance ticket. Continue the walk and after a short climb meet the 'Ca del Diavol', the devil's house, a building dating back to at least the nineteenth century. The purpose of its construction was never clarified, some argue that it was used to control the movement of boats on the lake, others believe it was useful to anything else! It is said that in this four-story turret, festivals were organized with satanic rituals. On the facade of the top floor you see represented mythological figures who have fed the mysterious stories about it. Continue to climb and you are on a walkway in the middle of a deep and evocative gorge: the Orrido di Bellano.

Horrido means in this case a natural gorge formed 15 million years ago from the waters of the Pioverna stream. The walkways stuck in the rock go into the rift. Do you already feel a strange feeling? The overhang, the waterfalls, the sparkling waters, the caves and the galleries carved into the rocks present a very suggestive spectacle. In the deafening noise of the stream rushing down to the lake, don't you feel like you hear a voice? Maybe it's Taino who calls you from the afterlife. According to legend, when the valiant warrior died, his comrades diverted the course of the stream and dropped his body with all the riches conquered, into a cavity in the center of the river.

They covered it with a huge boulder and brought the waters back to their bed to hide it forever. The walk on the catwalks sends you to another era, full of mystery and unknown places. The Orrido di Bellano, an intriguing walk on Lake Lecco.

scritto da Kenneth Harrison - ultima modifica il 08/09/2021

Griante Cadenabbia, Lake Como

Villa Maria, monumental residence built in neo Renaissance style between 1889 and 1892 by the engineer Giacomo Mantegazza, Griante, Como Lake Italy.

A fragrant blend of art, relaxation and culture. Contemplation reigns here. A green and blue strip of water and lush vegetation in the shape of a forked tongue, Lake Como looks south towards the industrial heart of Northern Italy and Milan, its financial capital, and north to the almost always snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps of the Engadin in the Grisons Canton.

The area around the lake offers excellent tourist hospitality, especially in the central part known as “Tremezzina” or the “Riviera of the Azaleas” for the multicoloured blossoms that burst into flower at the beginning of spring.. Together with Cernobbio and Bellagio, it is in Griante Cadenabbia , one of the queens of the lake and a prestigious international tourist destination with its excellent hotels and the more familiar, intimate and exclusive residences scattered throughout the area, that beautiful geometric plantings forming elegant gardens and inspiring hymns to contemplation can be found.
Cadenabbia lies on the shore opposite Bellagio. Visited in the past by famous personalities such as Giuseppe Verdi and Konrad Adenauer, the German Chancellor, who regularly holidayed here at Villa La Collina , in the far off 19th century, Griante Cadenabbia also charmed the American writer, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who wrote: Cadenabbia I ask myself, Is this a dream? Will it all vanish into air? Is there a land of such supreme And perfect beauty anywhere?
Today, tourists from all over the world, Australians, Americans, North Europeans, Russians, Swiss and Canadians, and even some from the Arab Emirates, animate its lakeside, wander through the ancient village and climb up to the Sanctuary of San Martino perched high above. All on a voyage of discovery of an area made enchanting by colourful gardens, spectacular parks and sumptuous historic villas, full of the harmonious sounds of nature interrupted only by solemn, enveloping silence.

The beauty of the landscape has been preserved with complete respect for the environment. This is at the heart of its attraction. From Griante we start out on an imaginary tour to discover Villa Carlotta , Villa La Collina , United States Democratic Senator (currently Secretary of State ) from Massachussets John Kerry's Villa Maresi, Villa Melzi in Bellagio and Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, owned by the FAI, the Italian National Trust.

scritto da Holiday in Glicine House - ultima modifica il 16/11/2021

Konrad Adenauer Academy

One of the most beautiful lakes of Europe, scenic landscapes of Lago di Como - Cadenabbia, Italy

Villa La Collina is the former summer residence of the first German chancellor Konrad Adenauers at Lake Como. The historic Villa and the modern Accademia Konrad Adenauer are located in one of his most beautiful and spectacular position overlooking the lake and the picturesque Bellagio. From 1959 to 1966 Konrad Adenauer spent his holidays in Villa La Collina 15 times in a row up to 8 weeks.

During these years Adenauer welcomed numerous important politicians and personalities of his time. Adenauer came to Lake Como by recommendation of his Foreign Minister Heinrich von Brentano, whose family had its roots here. In the spring of 1957 Adenauer visited for the first time Cadenabbia, where he also learned boccia. Since then, he came almost every spring and late summer there. First years he was in the Villa Rosa, then in the Villa Arminio. Already during his first stay Adenauer discovered the Villa La Collina, which - as the name says - on a hill above the village sits. Villa La Collina is located away from the transit traffic, protected from curious eyes, and offers a fantastic view over the lake. In 1958 Adenauer asked the mayor of Griante for mediation to rent the villa for his next holidays. The mayor took up the matter, and the owner of the Villa La Collina, a French noble family, agreed - the Villa was their summer home which was used only rarely. Two months before the arrival of Adenauer work began in the fall of 1959, around the Villa to make it habitable again. Inside the Villa was more or less no interior.

Local hotels helped with furniture and even the town hall provided a desk. The temporary atmosphere inside was in contrast to the noble position of the villa. However, visitors described the interior of the villa as pretty uncomfortable. But this didn’t bother Adenauer and the villa became his second homefor several years. The mere presence of Adenauer in Cadenabbia was a media event.

Dozens of journalists, German and Italian were waiting outside the villa to get pictures of a relaxed, vacationing Chancellor and pick up crisp quotes. Adenauer loved the landscape, the mild climate, the easy friendliness of the locals and the rich flora.

scritto da Holiday in Glicine House - ultima modifica il 16/11/2021