castles-and-ruins near Lezzeno

Photo: Ktulu

Como is Lake Como's largest city where you will find shopping, works of art, churches, gardens, museums, theatres, parks and palaces. Places to go inlcude the Duomo, the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio, Villa Olmo, the Volta Temple and Museum, the Teatro...

Photo: Gilles Hars

Villa Maresi was built on the ruins of an ancient medieval castle is part of the system of fortifications dating back to the Franco-Hispanic war that ended in 1529....

Photo: Antonia Migliaresi

The family bankers Amsick from Hamburg bought several properties in the enchanting corner of San Giovanni. The project involved demolition of some houses, silk factories, and three villas overlooking a lake. For this reason, in San Giovanni there is...

Adjacent to Park Maier, is this villa built in the mid-nineteenth century for the Milan Bar Emilio Ferrario and Pompey, before moving into the hands of various owners. Initially the villa was surrounded by a large park that later in 1925 was...

Located opposite Comacina island, this villa was once the home to many distinguished individuals including Beccaria Bonesana who built the villa in the 18th century and much later Cesare Cantu, writer, historian and patriot who left it to his...

Nineteenth century villa transformed into a comfortable, charming family-run, with a cozy living rooms in Art Nouveau style with large windows and original period frescoes. The villa, characterized by a central backlog open loggias with three arches...

A wonderful refined property with Lake, Gardens and more. Dating back to the 1750’s and is in fact where the famous Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi stayed and composed ‘La Traviata’. Private residence. The garden, slightly downhill towards the lake,...

Privately owned and protected by a high wall, this villa tempts curious visitors with its elegant garden, thanks to a wide gate, overlooking Via Regina. It is also one of the points of interest along the celebrated Green Way. The villa divides the...

To reach this private villa, you must walk a stone staircase, the so-called 'Scalotta', from the docks of Loppia (near Bellagio) alongside Villa Melzi, with eight hundred steps that leads up to an Italian garden with fountain. The roof is decorated...

Ever wonder where that stunning backdrop to Daniel Craig's R&R was? The 18th century Villa Balbianello hosted Mr Craig and his Hollywood crew. The mansion sits on a spit of land jutting into the deep green waters of the Lake whose shores are...

Private Residence. Built by the lake in the second half of the eighteenth century, the property was later expanded and renovated villa especially in the part of the garden. At the top of the garden, the Balzaretto also built the Mausoleum Gonzaga,...

Located on the western shore of Lake Como, Villa del Balbianello is perched on the point of the Dosso di Lavedo, a wooded promontory that juts out from the coastline to form a small peninsula. Villa del Balbianello is famous for its elaborate...

Photo: Daderot

Villa Carlotta is a unique sanctuary of art and beauty with its magnificent botanical specimens and art masterpieces in over 70,000 square meters of gardens and museum. It is located on the most picturesque part of Lake Como and renown for its...

The church is located next to the parish church of SS. Quirico e Giulitta and is accessed by three steps. It dates from the fourteenth century and was enlarged with the construction of two bays in the middle of the sixteenth century. Noteworthy are...

With origins in the 17th century and remodelled later with an image of the patron saint on the facade by Bernardino Barelli. Noteworthy are the altar sculptures, frescoes, stucco, oil paintings, a Renaissance tabernacle and the wooden reliquary...

The San Tomaso Park occupies the lower foothills of the ridge of Corno Birone (1,116 m), Mount Rai (1,250 m), Mount Prà Santo (1,245 m) and the Colma di Val Ravella (939 m). The park offers a beautiful landscape from just a short distance from the...

In the hills of Tremezzo is the town of Rogaro whose old centre consists of 18th century homes grouped around the Baroque church dedicated to Mary. The church houses the famous wooden statue known as the Black Madonna which is said to have been...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

We are part of the Anglican Church, belonging to the Diocese in Europe but we welcome all visitors of the Christian faith to our services of Holy Communion. These are held every Sunday at 10.30 am from the beginning of May to the end of October....

The Sacred Mount of Ossuccio is one of the nine sacri monti in the Italian regions of Lombardy and Piedmont which were inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2003. The devotional complex is located on a prealpine crag some 200...

The church was built in the 11th Century but has been almost comepletely rebuilt in the 17th century. Inside there are splendid coloured "scagliole". In the Intelvi Valley the Maestri Intelvesi used a special material called “scagliola” or false...

On the ancient road that ran through the Val d'Intelvi, between Biazzeno and Dizzasco stands the parish church SS. Pietro and Paolo with its tall bell tower. It stands on a hillock with a wide view of the lake. The bell tower stands apart from the...

The church stands on the lake but you can also reach it from the antique center via small alleyways and steps. Next to the bell tower the original Romanseque bell tower can still be seen....

Right at the beginning of the town of Castiglione, with the green Intelvi valley as a back ground, stands the oratory of the Madonna del Restello built in the 17th century to thank the Madonna for the end of a plague that had infested the valley....

Photo: Michael Ortelli

The parish church is located next to the historical centre of the village of Griante. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century on the site of an ancient temple, that was probably consecrated by St. Felice, bishop of Como. The church has a...

Photo: Enrico Colzani

Parish church built in the sixteenth century and later remodeled. The choir has a fresco by painter G. Quaglio. Next to the parish is the Oratory dedicated to Santa Marta with a fascinating frescoed facade in bas-relief from the sixteenth century,...

The monastery is located about 800 m above sea level, on the southern slope of Mount Galbiga, at the confluence of two tributary valleys of the stream Perlana, from which it takes its name. The place, evocative and isolated, has meant that the...

This building is the parish church of Ossuccio and was built after the church bearing the same name, situated on the Comacina Island. It dates back to the 12th century and during the restoration works of 1959 many parts of the Romanesque building...

Photo: Enrico Colzani

The church of Saints Peter and Paul was believed to have been founded in the eleventh century by Bishop Rainald and consecrated in 1095 by Pope Urban II, who was traveling to Clermont-Ferrand to call the first crusade. Over the centuries, the...

The Church of Saints Nazario and Celso is just a short walk away from the waters of Lake Como, near the harbor in the old town of Brienno. Some documents attest to the presence of a church since the end of the thirteenth century, the Romanesque...

Photo: Enrico Colzani

The current building was built on the site previously occupied by an older church: its construction began in 1593 and lasted until the next century (1617), when it became an independent parish. In the eighteenth century underwent a partial...

Photo: Enrico Colzani

The small chapel is located in the historic center of Veleso, at the intersection of several streets. The façade is decorated with a fresco depicting the Crucifixion....

Photo: Enrico Colzani

Executed in Baroque style (17th c.), with single nave and wooden altar piece dating back to the 1600's. On the left side is a bell tower containing five bells. Inside is the "Madonna delle Grazie" fresco of the Lombardy school, statue of the...

The church, that stands near the lake, contains interesting frescoes, and the outside is characterized by an open porch to the lake with a double lancetwindow and a tall stone bell tower. It was the church of the community, which remained...

Next to Lenno’s parish church is the baptistery, dating back to the second half of the 11th century and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. The outside is simple and plain, with a square bell-tower and an apse on the north side. On the left side...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

This Romanesque church with emblematic bell tower was once a lodging for pilgrims making their way to Rome along Lake Como’s western shore. The history of the church has always been bound with contiguous ancient medieval hospice. The single nave...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

Parish church of Argegno made with Moltrasio stone in the Neo-romanic Style. A construction in neo-Romanesque style with a gabled facade enhanced by a rose window depicting saints. On the front of the church is a mosaic of the four Evangelists, the...

This little Romanesque church is built directly on the lake and still preserves its original structure. Worth seeing is not only the sail bell tower, but also the several traces of frescoes on the internal and external walls, among which stands out...

The parish church of St. Abbondio rises isolated on the western side of the village of Mezzegra, with its majestic front facing the lake. It was probably founded in the 12th century in Romanesque style, then rebuilt in 1702 by local emigrants and...

The parish church stands in the XI Febbraio square, near the baptistery, overlooking the renowned Venere Gulf, from where you are presented with an enchanting view. The church was built in the 5th or 6th century on the ruins of a watering place,...

Located right on the lake in the village of Tremezzo, the church began construction in 1775 and completed in 1896. The inside of the church was painted by Luigi Tagliaferri, who did all the paintings of the chorus and of the vault. The walls were...

Photo: Laurom

This sanctuary is part of a series of shrines along a one kilometer cobble stoned walkway. The shrines depict scenes of the Madonna’s and Christ’s life and are represented by frescos and natural size statues made of stucco and terracotta. The...

Photo: Claudine Frère

Near the top of the Ghisallo pass stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Ghisallo. Its name, according to the legend, comes from a certain "Ghisallo" who, in the Middle Ages, near the pass was attacked by bandits. He made a vow to the Madonna to...

Located in the upper part of the village of Lenno. Once it was called monastery of Roncate after the name of the hamlet where it was built, but later it became the “Abbazia dell’Acquafredda" (the ‘Freshwater abbey’), because of a fresh source near...

An ancient palace of the seventeenth century. It belonged to one of the most influential families of Lake Como, the Brentano, who later moved to Milan and then to Germany. It is currently used in part as a city hall where the renown painter Giulio...

It’s a boulder of pyramidal shape that owes its curious name to a crescent engraved on one side, of natural origin, accompanied by the letters PLDB (Moon Stone of Bellagio) and the date 1782, which commemorates the end of a period of dispute between...

Located in a churchyard, this statue represents a man in the act of throwing a large stone. The monument reminds locals of a battle in Libya in which alpinists of Brienno fought. The battalion Morbegno, all composed of soldiers from the lake area,...

Photo: Johnnyb11

Here, a black cross marks the spot where Benito Mussolini was shot and killed (along with his lover Claretta Petacci) by partisans, marking the last stand of the Fascist dictator's rule over Italy. Actually, he wasn't really the ruler of Italy at...

Located just minutes south of Bellagio’s town centre is this charming little village that can be reached by foot, car or a shuttle train known as “Trombetta". Noteworthy is the small dock with examples of “Lucie" or traditional fishing boats with...

Photo: Nicolago

Not far from the shore, in front of the town Ossuccio, lies Comacina Island, the only Island in lake Como with its little white church dedicated to S. Giovanni. The island is also home to roman ruins, nature hikes and a well known restaurant:...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

Argegno is a small village situated on an inlet in the lake, and is built alongside the River Telo. A popular cable car excursion, one of the steepest in Europe, can transport people up to the nearby village of Pigra. A newly opened beach or "lido"...

Old world atmosphere characterizes this town with narrow streets, laneways and steep stairs. Mount San Bernardo and Briante rise over 1300 meters in the background. Characteristic of the skyline is the tall bell tower of San Vittore....

Pigra is located above the picturesque town of Argegno and can be reached by cable car. From Pigra you can do the wonderful hike down to Colonno (2 hrs.) situated on the lake....

Photo: Michael Ortelli

Famous for the gorge that bisects the colourfully painted town. The Ponte Roma bridge near the shore affords views of the waterfall on one side and the lake on the other....

This little village, which lies on the western shore of Lake Como, at the foot of Monte Costone, is one of the most distinctive places on the lake. In the last century Sala Comacina was already considered an important holiday destination, as is...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

Located in the 'center' of the lake, facing the Bellagio promontory, some 30 kilometers north of Como. It has been visited by many historical celebrities including Verdi, who wrote part of his famous La Traviata opera here. It continues to be a...

Ossuccio is a small town home to less than 1000 people. It looks onto Lake Como’s only island Comancina while inshore the hills quickly ascend into mountains. The town is most known for its UNESCO Heritage Site, the Sacro Monte—a place of pilgrimage...

Lenno lies roughly at midpoint of Lake Como’s western shore. Its most popular attraction is Villa Balbianello, an ivy covered building that was the setting for a number of Hollywood blockbusters including Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Casino...

Cadenabbia is a favorite spring and autumn resort, owing to the great beauty of the scenery, vegetation, and its sheltered location. It also serves as a popular health resort and a holiday place for travelers. The town was founded by the Celts about...

Tremezzo is centrally located on lake. Base yourself there and you will have quick access to the ferries and some of the most prestigious accommodation that Lake Como has to offer. Tremezzo, and its nearby town Cadenabbia, give you Lake Como's most...

Photo: By Carloalberto2014

Parco Mayer is located at the village of Tremezzo, large and full of history hosts the swimmers among the trees, there is a bar, a pebble beach and a beach volleyball court. During the summer period is also home to several events organized by the...

Photo: Wolfgang Sauber

Come and see the Italian garden that dates back to the XVII Century with its geometrical schema, stair and terraces, statues and fountains; feel the echoes of the Romantic period, still alive in the structure of the park with old trees of big size...

Photo: By Carloalberto2014

The Teresio Olivelli municipal park, formerly Giardino Meier, may be one of the best kept secrets among Tremezzo's botanical and architectural gems. Owned by the municipality of Tremezzo since 1979, it is between the lake and the Regina state road,...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

Nesso is a picturesque village on the eastern shore of the Como branch of Lake Como, at the mouth of the valley to the lake. Here, in the hamlet Coatesa, there is the Orrida of Nessus, a deep and picturesque gorge located at the mouth of the valleys...

Villa Melzi is a historic villa situated in the town of Bellagio. It is famous for its surrounding gardens, containing a variety of botanical specimens from around the world interspersed with statues, promenades and period architecture. Entrance...

Thanks to Giambattista Sommariva the villa reached its greatest glory in the 18th century, being enriched by art masterpieces and becoming a museum. Sommariva was an art collector and bought the estate at the beginning of the century; he enhanced...

This gem of a museum sits in a spectacular spot, adjacent to the chapel of the La Madonna del Ghisallo – patron saint of cycling – and 600 metres above Bellagio, offering spectacular views of Lake Como to the North and East. Together with the chapel...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

More than two hundred navigational instruments are on display in this antique tower-shaped hous. Among the most interesting instruments in this private collection are a XVIII century telescope made in Venice, compasses and solar clocks of various...

Deep in a conifer patch on a plateau that overlooks Lake Como near Bellagio is Jungle Raider Park Civenna. Activities include tree-top trekking, zip-lining, mountain biking, canyoning, laser tag and cave exploration....

Photo: Pifoyde

This cable car, one of the steepest ones in Europe—in only 5 minutes it brings you from 200 m to 850 m offering you a spectacular view of the town of Argegno and the lake. Bus line C10 stops right in front of the cable car station at Argegno. From...

Hotel Il Perlo Panorama is the First Bike Hotel in Bellagio and is perfectly located at the beginning of the historical Ghisallo Climb. Services include: free bike safe storage, first mechanical aid set, technical help, laundry services, maps &...

Easy level canyoning located the valley between Ossuccio and Lenno (requires about 45 minutes of approach). The most distinctive feature of this canyon is the transition in a completely dark cave, various dips and a beautiful toboggan runs complete...

Want to experience fishing on Lake Como first hand? Would you like to learn how the lake’s bounty is harvested, processed, cooked and served at its freshest? Join Alessandro Sala, a professional fisherman for a real life experience of going out and...

Fishing is one of our most important activities at Silvio's Hotel Restaurant. It is not only essential to our cuisine, but we also care about spreading it's culture and knowledge. At this purpose we offer our Guests the opportunity of following our...

For a unique view of the lake, consider a helicopter tour. Its a one in a lifetime experience that will be the highlight your trip. Have a special occasion to celebrate: wedding, anniversary or birthday--this might just be the ticket....

Want to experience Lake Como end to end in minutes flat? Consider a cigar boat tour for a unique experience that won’t quickly be forgotten. Ideal way to celebrate a special event or have something to brag about when you get home....

Lake Como Motorbike is something unique, every detail planned in keeping with a philosophy of simplicity, elegance and warmth in hospitality. You will ride your motorbikes along roads which only the locals know, living this life for a week just as...

Located a few kilometers from Bellagio in the Larian Triangle. Highest of all mountains on the promontory, it offers unparalleled views of the lake and breathtaking panoramas. Along the way you will encounter large boulders (Pitera Lentina) left...

This cave is located above Tremezzo lasting a little less than half a day and is one of the easiest ones to undertake. The entrance of the cave is reached after 50 minutes of walking while the entire cave (400 meters) takes about 2 hours to...

Photo: Filippo Venini

Crocione in Italian means large cross, and that is what adorns the top of Monte Crocione, a 1641 metre peak directly above the town of Griante. From here you will experience breathtaking views of Lake Como, and the Swiss and Italian Alps....

The Bear's Cave or Bear's Hole, is found on the northern extreme of Laglio, in the Torriggia area, at about 400 meters above Lake Como. You arrive by climbing from Torriggia via a mountain path. The grotto is famous for the petrified bones found...

The Greenway" is a leisurely and pleasant walk between Colonno and Cadenabbia following traces of the Antica Strada Regina, the antique connection road was built by the Romans. This 10 km long itinerary leads through ancient villages with wonderful...

Casa Brenna Tosatto is in Campo di Lenno, situated on the western branch of the Lake Como, an area which offers wonderful natural landscapes and rare examples of architectural and artistic history. Here you can learn the art of water colour painting...

Casa Brenna Tosatto is in Campo di Lenno, situated on the western branch of the Lake Como, an area which offers wonderful natural landscapes and rare examples of architectural and artistic history. Here you can learn the art of cooking with...

Private cooking school at the restaurant Salice Blu in Bellagio with multi-awarding winning chef Luigi Gandola (Best Chef of Lombardy in 2005, Champion of Mediterranean Cuisine in 2004-2008, Prix Culinaire Taittinger Italian finalist in 2006-2009,...

Lovely and secluded beach in Careno, on the east side of the lake towards Bellagio. The beach is made up partly of natural sand and partly by grass. It 's very quiet and romantic. Nearby there is also a Trattoria but we recommend a picnic because...

The club’s facilities include a swimming pool, sun bathing area with deck chairs and umbrellas, hammocks, a trampoline, ping pong, mini tennis or volleyball, canoes and row boats, and of course wakeboarding and water skiiing lessons, a bar, and the...

Hire a motorboat, drive it and enjoy a sightseeing tour to Bellagio and Varenna, see Lecco’s lake leg, the magnificent Villa Melzi, the Rockefeller Foundation, Villa Monastero, the “007’s Casino Royale" Villas La Gaeta and Balbianello, see Villa...

Facility that offers wakeboard, lessons and tubing with beach facilities including sunbeds, umbrellas and restaurant....

When in Argegno, consider renting a boat and seeing the sites from the water. No boat license required. We are open every day from April to September all-day opening. We advise that boats be booked at our shipyard or by phone at number (+39) 031...

The park of "Ospedaletto" is one of the most popular meadows during the summer season, access is free. The field is located near the ancient church tower of St. Maria Maddalena, there is a car park just above the lawn, a parking garage and going up...

Photo: Michael Ortelli

Our beach is clean, private and equipped with sunbeds. Enjoy views envied worldwide. It's a safe place where families and young people can spend hours and hours of entertainment. The Bar of Lido di Argegno offers a range of drinks, sandwiches and...

Lido di Lenno features a modern and well equipped beach service. Direct contact with the golden sand gives the guest total well-being and a sweet sensation of stillness. Gazebos, beach umbrellas, sun beds and canopy beds are available for...

Located between Bellagio and the gardens of Villa Melzi, Lido Belaggio offers a beach equipped with gazebos and sun beds for relaxing in the sun, and provides a catering service for a light lunch. In the afternoon, the Lido turns into a place where...

Beach club, restaurant, pool and tour services all available at this one of the more popular “Lidos" on Lake Como. Treat yourself to some sun and a long drink under an umbrella. The Lido di Cadenabbia offers tourists the opportunity to enjoy a range...

At T Spa – super-stylish for its design and materials, with spectacular panoramic views over the Lake. Admission and treatments are reserved for the Hotel's Guests only. The ultimate blend of care, professionalism and harmony. T Spa at Grand Hotel...

Rent from a selection of exotic cars including Ferraris, Lambourghni and porsche. Then drive around Lake Como’s celebrated streets like a movie star. You’ll have heads turning and paparazzi taking pictures wondering who came to town....

The Tower is located on a rocky outcrop above the village of Spurano and it was an ancient watchtower, which probably dates back to the 12th century. The fortified structure, included in the difensive system of the Comacina Island, was probably...

Originally a signalling tower, that later became a fortress as documented 1158. There is no information about the proceeding centuries until 1454 when the area fell into the hands of the Republic of Venice and the Adda River became the natural...

The Castle lies on a peninsula jutting out into Lake Como close to Riva Bianca and its namesake beach. Built in the Romanesque period, the fortress was at the focus of several historical events, like the battle between Milan and Como in 1124. It was...

Also called Tower of Barbarossa, stands high over Mandello dating from the twelfth century. The tower has been rebuilt over the years, but retains interesting architectural features like the arched portal, the remains of painted trophies and a...

Volunteers of the Cultural Center Library Bellagio deal with loaning library books and organize various cultural events....

At Mount Cross Ardona (m. 1005), a path splits into two. On the left, is a wooded summit then down along a bumpy ride to the entrance of Castel d'Ardona. To the right, a few bends bring you to same point but the road is much easier (1h 30 'from...

It is thought the tower was built at the behest of Fontanedo Bernabo Visconti in 1357, on the defensive line of Upper Lake, but perhaps it was only enhanced an existing structure. It is located about 700 meters downstream of the village of...

Gate Tower is an imposing fortress, 40 meters high, built in 1192, on the initiative of the mayor Hubert de 'Olevano, to defend the entrance to the city of Como. In the fourteenth century the great tower was flanked by two other pentagonal towers,...

In the medieval center of Villincino, was a fortified town built in the late tenth century. The village was owned by the wealthy family Carpani. The town was destroyed in 1278. The small and picturesque district is accessed by going through a tower,...

The Broletto or "Town Hall" is the most important medieval secular building in Como. The building rises immediately northwest of the Cathedral; representing an almost unique example of the close connection between spiritual and temporal power in a...

It is a private building constructed on roman foundation with an irregular square plant. The building, which has crown walls with battlements to protect the round parapet, can be dated between 1360 and 1370. It is a typical castle-enclosure, which...

Fort Fuentes is a former military fort on the hill of Montecchio or Monteggiolo near Colico, northern Italy. It was built by the Spanish governor of Milan, Don Pedro Enríquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, to defend the northern border of the Spanish...

Fort Montecchio-Lusardi is a military fort situated in Colico, in the province of Lecco, northern Italy. It was built between 1911 and 1914. It is the only Italian fort from World War I which has been preserved intact with its original weapons. The...

A must see--one of the most beautiful castles on the lake. It is a walled enclusure, developed around a squared tower with restored battlements and a real drawbridge. Additional attractions feature live falconry shows, an exhibition dedicated to the...

Trapezoidal shaped castle with three towers built by counts Della Torre of Rezzonico in 1363. It is described as a "castle-fence", fortifying an area of two thousand square meters which surrounded the town and the main tower. Today the castle is...

Baradello Castle is situated on hill dominating the valley like a stone sentinel watching over the town of Como and Spina Verde Park. The top of the tower provides 360 degree views of the city, the Alps and Po Valley. The fortification was used...

Placed on a hill overlooking the town, the castle was built in late Middle Ages to block the way to Valvarrone and it still remains a well-preserved tower, surrounded by ruins of ancient houses. The first proofs date back to 1039, when it suffered a...

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