Things to do near Como Lake Italy – what to see attractions and activities.

Colico - Churches and places of worship

Abbazia di Piona

Founded by Cluny Friars around the church of Saint Nicholas, today is one of the most famous Romanesque monuments in Lombardy. It is the pride of the village of Colico.

Como - Churches and places of worship

Duomo

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta, next to Broletto, was subjected to a long and complex construction which ended in '800. It houses beautiful tapestries and paintings of '500.

Bellano - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Stupenda

early twentieth century villa with breathtaking views overlooking Lake Como

Como - Museums

Tempio Voltiano

A tribute and recognition to the scientific work of the famous scientist Alessandro Volta. The temple has a collection of scientific instruments and objects belonging to Volta. It is one of the most visited museums in Como.

Lecco - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Bovara

Seat of the current City Hall of Lecco since 1928, Palace Bovara takes its name from the famous neoclassical architect Giuseppe Bovara who designed it in 1836 to then become the first modern hospital in the city.

Lecco - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Falk

Designed and built in Piazza Garibaldi in the historic center of Lecco, Palazzo Falk was designed by Giuseppe Ongania in purely neo-Renaissance style.

Como - Churches and places of worship

Basilica di S. Fedele

Built the sixth century A.D. , It presents a beautiful exterior of the apse. The interior has the original Romanesque structure and frescoes of a later period.

Lecco - Monuments

Monumento a Manzoni

On 22 May 1873 Alessandro Manzoni died, and the city council of Lecco, then decided to erect a monument in memory of the of beloved author of Lecco by adoption. The monument to the achievement of which contributed even Giuseppe Verdi.

Lecco - Theaters

Teatro della Società

By far the and most important theater of Lecco, it is located in the city center. Built in 1835 by architect Giuseppe Bovara, it has beautiful stucco interior made by the master carver Giacomo Mattarelli.

Lecco - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo delle Paure

In Piazza XX Settembre in a stunning location overlooking the Lungolario, there is a palace built in eclectic style. It was called palace of fears because the building was built to become headquarters of the Intendenza di Finanza.

Como - Monuments

Fondazione Antonio Ratti

The Fondazione Antonio Ratti, is a non-profit organization. It was founded in 1985 by the own inspirer . Antonio Ratti decides to turn his dedication and passion for art and the fabric in an active reality in the world of culture. The result is a center of research and study of textile production where art, culture and technology meet.

Como - Parks and nature reserves

Oasi Torbiere di Albate-Bassone

The Oasis Torbiere of Albate-Bassone which is located in the southern part of Como, is a natural reserve of 90 hectares. It consists of three areas: forests, meadows and marshes. There are a hundred species of birds: red woodpeckers, doves, pigeons among the most prevalent. Rarely there are nests for species of passage such as hawks, cranes and sparrows. It is possible to visit this area thanks to a natural route with huts of exploration. This oasis is managed by the WWF which defines "area with a particularly rare ecosystem."

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Vescovile

The Bishop's Palace is located at the behest of Bishop Alberico at the beginning of the eleventh century. Originally includes a pre-Romanesque baptistery later lost. Few traces remain of the old building, the lodge, the windows of the atrium and the apse of an ancient church. The interior is gorgeous with frescoes of the fifteenth century.

Como - Walls, towers and gates

Torre di San Vitale

The Tower of S. Vitale is located at the end of Via Serafino Balestra. Its name comes from an ancient church demolished instead of the construction of the nearby railroad. It is'a pentagonal building just like of Porta Nuova.

Como - Monuments

Monumento ai Caduti

The War Memorial is a majestic building of 30 meters with large openings and fully lined with stone. Inside, on the base stands a granite monolith which are inscribed the names of 650 Como war dead.

Como - Monuments

Monumento Ad Alessandro Volta

One dedicated to Alessandro Volta, a native of Como, is a marble statue was inaugurated in 1838. At the base it is engraved the inscription "A Volta - La Patria", to witness how the city is closely tied to its illustrious citizens.

Como - Fountains

Fontana Camerlata

La Fontana Camerlata is located on the homonymous square, dates back to 1936 and is the result of the combination between the architect Cesare Cattaneo and the painter Mario Radice. The fountain was commissioned by the city to redevelop one of the city's main square, piazzale Camerlata. He was made a 'Work of pure decoration, which highlights the forms obtained with geometric appearance. Construction unpretentious purely symbolic value.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Gallio

The Gallio Colleggio was built in the sixteenth century (1583) by Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. The ceiling and walls of the main staircase are painted by Carloni. The church of the building, dedicated to Santa Maria of Loreto (1746-1754), is the home of eighteenth-century paintings.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Geno

Built at the end of '700 by Marchesa Menafoglio, it is located in the bottom of the beautiful lakeside walks of Viale Geno

Como - Walls, towers and gates

Torre Gattoni

The ancient Gattoni Tower was built by the Romans. It is located in Via Carlo Cattaneo and at the behest of the canonical Gattoni hosted the physics laboratory that Alessandro Volta, his friend, used to study the stack.

Como - Walls, towers and gates

Torre Baradello

The Baradello tower has a base quadratic. it is one of the best preserved buildings in time. About 19 meters high, it has its foundation on the rock and in ancient times was adorned with battlements type of Guelph. This is the part of the old structure that was lost.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Olmo

Magnificent eighteenth-century neoclassical villa, just outside the city center,overlooking the lake.

Como - Theaters

Teatro dei Burattini

The Puppets Theatre has presented for more than twenty years, shows with hand-carved wooden puppets. The stories are inspired by the opera, folk legends and literature.

Como - Museums

Museo Storico Giuseppe Garibaldi

The building dates back to the XV century and is attached to the Palace Giovio by twosteps that form a unified path. Interesting are the sections including the Renaissance,Contemporary History and Ethnography.

Como - Theaters

Teatro Sociale di Como

Founded in the year 1813. This theater was home for a certain period, to Teatro alla Scala after the 1943 bombings. Here are held dramas , dance acts, opera and concerts.

Como - Museums

Civico Museo Archeologico Paolo Giovio

The Museum was inaugurated in 1897, the collections include archeology 800, prehistory and early history, the Roman period, the Middle Ages and a library specializing in the archaeological sector.

Como - Museums

Museo Archeologico "Paolo Giovio"

Located within the city High School. The collection is varied: antiques, curios and scientific instruments. A journey through the Egyptian collection, during the prehistoricand proto-historic age, Roman and Medieval period.

Como - Museums

Museo Didattico della Seta

Open to public since 1990, this wonderful museum houses the textile tradition of Como.There are on display: tools, objects, machines and samplers. You can see thereconstruction of historical teaching of silk.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Broletto

The old town hall was built in medieval times. Attached to the cathedral was a symbol of the link between church and state. It is now used for conventions and exhibitions.

Como - Walls, towers and gates

Porta Torre

Porta Tower, in via Cantu, is a picturesque fortress of 40 meters, built in 1192 to defend one of the strategic points of entry of the city. It is a massive construction of military Romanesque. The side that see the city is finer and formed of four arches that correspond to the inner planes, now been destroyed over the centuries.

Lecco - Churches and places of worship

Basilica minore romana di San Nicolò

Parish church dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, St. Nicholas was built in a period prior to the thirteenth century. The interior is wonderful with many frescoes with evangelical scenes and pictorial fragments dating back to the late fourtee

Como - Walls, towers and gates

Torre e Palazzo Pantera

The Pantera Tower is all that remains of the tower of the palace that belonged to the historic family Pantera. It dates from the fifteenth century. The adjacent Palazzo Pantera XV century house owned by the powerful Rusconi at the end of the century turned into brothel.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Olginati

Even Olginati Palace dates back to the fifteenth century, elegant exterior and richly decorated interiors. The building was donated to the municipality with the condition to create a museum in honor of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Currently, the exhibition is organized in sections of the Risorgimento and Contemporary History and Ethnography.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Romana

In Via Zezio you can admire the remains of the Roman villa, partly destroyed by the invasion construction. You can still see fragments of painted wall plaster, mosaics and bronze statues.

Costa Masnaga - Walls, towers and gates

Torre Beretta

The Beretta Tower was initially part of a castle. The tower was built in the 11th century, and it was a fortified building that had the function of guarding the entire surrounding area. At the beginning of the twentieth century, only a few ruins remained, above which a second villa was built in eclectic aulic style, called Villa Beretta.

Costa Masnaga - Walls, towers and gates

Torre Camisasca

The Camisasca Tower was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. In the fifteenth century the tower passed to the court and remained its property until 1517, because it later passed to the monastery of Lambrugo. The building has a rectangular structure with a square base, 12 meters high with small windows. In 2005, the tower underwent restoration interventions and currently cultural events are organized in its interior.

Dervio - Walls, towers and gates

Torre di Dervio

The Dervio tower was initially part of the Castle of Orezia. The tower was first mentioned in the years 1039-1040 and was used for defensive functions, with the precise purpose of alerting the inhabitants in the event of danger.

Dervio - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello Corenno

The Castle of Corenno is located in the municipality of Dervio. The structure, built between 1360 and 1370, has an irregular plan of square shape and represents the example of a castle-fence. The castle was used as a fortification against enemy attacks. On the façade, on the door, is the coat of arms of the Andreani family. Those who go to visit the castle can enjoy a beautiful landscape.

Carimate - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello di Carimate

The Castle of Carimate dates back to 1149.The construction of the Castle at the base of the one now existing dates back to 1345; the fief was dominated by the Visconti, lords of Milan.Used as a holiday, hunting and guarding fortress...

Cernobbio - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa d'Este

Of remarkable artistic interest. It now houses a luxury hotel it was built in the sixteenth century by Pellegrino Tibaldi and it is famous for its magnificent garden on the lake (there is a plane tree of more than 500 years).

Cernobbio - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Erba

It was built in the sixteenth century as a monastery for women, during the '800 it was restored according to the taste of the period; it is now a high-level conference center and it is surrounded by a park overlooking the lake.

Cernobbio - Churches and places of worship

Chiesa di San Vincenzo

Built in the eighteenth century, it was altered in the late '800 and its interior hosts a precious Baroque altar.

Cernobbio - Castles, palaces and mansions

Museo Villa Bernasconi

The villa was built in 1905 by Davide Bernasconi. All structural and decorative aspects were developed by the architect Campanini, following a trend Liberty. Today, it annually hosts major art exhibitions and cultural events.

Abbadia Lariana - Beaches

Spiaggia parco Ulisse Guzzi

Abbadia Lariana - Beaches

Spiaggia

Abbadia Lariana - Beaches

Spiaggia Lido di Abbadia

Menaggio - Viewpoints

Strada Regina

Argegno - Viewpoints

Funivia per Pigra

Lecco - Museums

Civico museo archeologico

Opened in 2001, the museum documents human settlements from the Palaeolithic to to early medieval period. Numerous are the reconstructions of environments, clothing and weaponry of the different historical periods.

Lecco - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Manzoni

Residenza Manzoni of the Manzoni family where he spent the entire period from infancy through adolescence. An elegant and refined structure, the neo-classical villa, houses inside the famous civic museum of Manzoni.

Gera Lario - Parks and nature reserves

Riserva Naturale del Pian di Spagna E Lago di Novate

The Pian di Spagna and Lake Mezzola Nature Reserve is a natural environment that was invaded during the 16th and 18th centuries by the Spaniards. The area consists of lakes, rivers, beaches etc. The environment, rich in a wide variety of flora and fauna, offers the opportunity for all nature lovers to take interesting walks.

Pianello del Lario - Museums

Museo della Barca Lariana

The Lariana Barca Museum was inaugurated in 1982 in the premises of an old spinning mill. The exhibition is divided into fourteen rooms, where you can admire more than one hundred and sixty boats built on Lake Como. Among the most valuable boats there is a Venetian gondola and an English sailing boat called 'Cisco. '

Como - Museums

Museo Casartelli

Museum of Natural Science, founded in 1917 by the Carducci Association, it accomodates modeling and visual equipment, home miniature (beginning of 900) for the teaching of all science subjects. The walls and ceiling are richly frescoed by the painter Achille Zambelli (Vigevano 1876 - Gravesend 1963) with pictures that show the formal characteristics of the teaching collection.

Como - Museums

Centro di Cultura Scientifica "Alessandro Volta"

Witness of historical visits such as that of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, Villa Olmo is a luxurious residence. In 1924 it passed from the Visconti di Modrone to the town of Como. Since 1982, it houses the Centre for Scientific Culture "Alessandro Volta ".

Mandello del Lario - Museums

Museo del Motociclo MOTO GUZZI

In Mandello del Lario there is one of the most interesting museums for fans of two wheels, the Motoguzzi museum. Located inside the factories where the production of the legendary 'Guzzi' began, it houses about 150 specimens including series motorcycles, sports bikes, experimental prototypes and engines. All exposed in a time path, testifying to the timeless all-Italian myth of two wheels that appreciates throughout the world. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 3.00 p.m. — 4.00 p.m. free admission — guided tour. The museum will be closed on Monday, April 1

Merate - Museums

Museo di Storia Naturale

The Museum of Natural History of Merate was built by Professor Ambrosioni to collect the great naturalistic collection that was located in the former Manzoni College. The collections include a hundred different species, specifically those that are present on the territory. The Museum also exhibits some relics related to the history of Merate.

Abbadia Lariana - Museums

Civico Museo Setificio Monti

In 1818 Pietro Monti, an industrialist of the time, transformed the ancient crowd from pannilani into a silk flyer. Used as such until 1934 then purchased by the Abegg family, they used it by twisting. In 1978, the City Council bought the building after a period of degradation. After the restoration, the ancient twisting machine of 1818 was also used. In 1998, the Setificio Monti Civic Museum was inaugurated. Today you can find equipment, tools, documents on the history of the flyer, etc.

Arosio - Museums

Ecomuseo dell'Avifauna Lombarda

The Ecomuseum, located in Arosio, presents an institute for ornithological research. In its environments there are more than 350 specimens, mainly birds in the process of embalming. It is, in fact, an observatory that studies the migratory movements of birds, located in a very special place: a wooded area, very verdant. It is the perfect place for those who are interested in natural environments.

Bregnano - Museums

Museo Apistico

The Bee Museum located in Bregnano, houses objects that are used for the work of beekeeping products. In addition, the museum also supports a historical — educational collection that contains documents on the history of beekeeping. Those who want to visit the museum can do it for free.

Premana - Museums

Museo Etnografico Comunale

The Municipal Ethnographic Museum was built in 1974 by Gianola Battista. It is located within the rooms of the former villa Cazzamalli. The Museum exhibits a collection of objects of agro-pastoral culture and material and economic life. It is divided on three floors: on the ground floor there are documents and photographs, on the first floor is the Sala del Ferro, where materials made of iron are exhibited. On the second floor there is the agricultural room divided into three sections.

Primaluna - Museums

Museo Civico Storico ed Etnografico

The Civic Historical and Ethnographic Museum was founded in 1973 by the Municipality of Primaluna, with the aim of guarding and enhancing objects of various types used by their ancestors. The objects on display are among the most varied: from those used in everyday life to those that document the transition to industrialization of the different trades. Particular interest, they capture the objects used in the processing of iron.

Como - Theaters

Teatro Nuovo Rebbio

This theater is run by a group of volunteers who belong to the St. Martin Parish. Itsspecial feature is that there are theater productions in dialect. Numerous cultural andvoluntary associations  organize there  different shows.

Como - Museums

Pinacoteca Civica

The Pinacoteca Civica is housed in the Palazzo Volpi. Art from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century are exhibited in this impressive Palace: an ideal destination for know the art of the city and the region.

Abbadia Lariana - Walls, towers and gates

Torraccia Diroccato

The Torraccia has a quadrangular structure. Now you can see only a large wall extended during the lake and gives the idea of a small castle. The Torraccia is composed of many very special external and internal elements.

Appiano Gentile - Monumental Trees

Cedro Atlante

The Cedar Atlas is almost 20 meters high and has a circumference greater than 11 meters. The tree is located in the Province of Como, in Lombardy.

Asso - Walls, towers and gates

Torre di Scarenna trasformato

The transformed Tower of Scarenna is located in the municipality of Asso. It is thought to have been built in Roman times. Some say it dates back to the 11th century, others to the 13th century. The fact that it is such an ancient construction has contributed to its slow deterioration, which is why today it is not in excellent condition even if it is still visible.

Asso - Walls, towers and gates

Torre di Asso

Barni - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello di Barni ruderi

The castle of Barni is an ancient building dating back to the '500. After having undergone some restorations, the castle retained its original appearance.

Como - Walls, towers and gates

Torre di Porta Nuova

From the architectural point of view Torre di Porta Nuova is the style that characterizes the Larian monuments, the Romanesque. In 1000 a.d. the Como area developed its own characteristics and became a symbol of this new way of building. The Romanesque of this building has an essential element, the stone and as style the simplicity and purity, preferring the architecture to the sculpture.

Como - Walls, towers and gates

Le Mura

The walls of Como extend on the three sides along the historic center of Como. They still well preserved and visible and maintain a good part of the scope that was originally. They belong to the medieval era. They were built at the behest of Julius Caesar and formed a defensive bulwark.

Como - Monuments

Casa del Fascio

The ex fascist house, built in 1932, was designed by the architect Giuseppe Terragni (Meda, April 18, 1904 - Como, July 19, 1943), Como hosts several works of architecture of Italian rationalism promoted by him. The building highlights the concept of modernity, through large windows the outdoor spaces interacts with domestic ones.

Como - Churches and places of worship

Santuario del Crocefisso

It was first dedicated to the SS. Annunciata, the church dates thirteenth century. The present building was built between the sixteenth and the seventeenth century and is called the Sanctuary of the Crucifix because it houses a beautiful wooden crucifix of the fourteenth century, the religious tradition that connects to a miracle which occurred in 1529, during the Good Friday procession.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Rusconi

Originally Palazzo Rusconi belonged to the municipal building. It is located in Via Rusconi. In 1514 Gian Giacomo Rusca started the renewal of his residence and also today the inscription family is still present on the elegant courtyard. The building belonged to Rusca Family until 1786 when it passed to Innocenzo Odescalchi who over the years rented it to the French military and then sold it to Joseph Valcamonica who worked immediately to renew the facade.

Como - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Vittani

You begin to see Vittani Palace from home Bazzi (via Olginati), merchant house of the fifteenth century with Gothic windows whose style is traced from the Palace of family Vittani, in the street, watching the harbor area and the shopping area. Vittani Palace is the soul of Como of ancient time, and a mix of facades and courtyards.

Como - Theaters

Teatro Romano

The Roman theater was built using the model of the greek theater, with appropriate modifications. It was built with a semi-circle of about 60 meters in diameter and stands in brick. The architectural novelty of this theater is in a fully autonomous and independent structure, based on a dense network of radial and concentric walls.

Como - Monuments

Case Bazzi

The building is located in the walled city and it is the result of the unification of three different houses dating to the Middle Ages, XII - XVII century.