High on the road is the sanctuary of the Madonna of Peace, erected in 1659 to celebrate the peace of Pirenei, which ended the Thirty Year War between the French and Spaniards. Characteristic is the Romanesque hanging bell (sec. XIII), and in the...

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...

A series of chapels depicting Christ’s final journey to Mount Golgotha. The traditional 14 stations have been added to with a 15th dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows and are located in a rectangular square in front of the parish church, dedicated to...

The church stands on a hill, away from residential areas; It can be reached via a path through the woods and ends close to the facade; it is accessed from the main entrance facade and a second entrance on the eastern side. The church has suffered...

Small church dating back to the eleventh century dedicated to Santa Margherita and linked to the cult of the Saints Hermits Larian. Its location is strategically significant as a testimony to its military origin, in defense of the Valsassina and...

In 1688, a plaster relief of the Madonna of Sorrows kept in the small chapel of Lezzeno is said to have cried. And thus, in 1690 a Sanctuary was built in her honour. The work designed by Giovanni Battista Quadrio, was completed in 1704. Today we can...

Probably dated around the XII century. The building is located near the walls of a castle, a large complex built by the hands of Andreani. Over the centuries it has undergone several extensive restorations: the facade, remodeled several times, now...

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...

It is one of the first of a series of churches that recall Sicily as many people that lived in these valleys were forced to emigrate to the the south in the 16 and 17th centuries due to poverty. Whenever they came home they made donations to the...

The San Eusebio church is located just before arriving at the village Peglio. It stands in a beautiful position, overlooking the lake. It is one of the most significant examples of the counter Reformation in the Como area. Inside you can admire the...

The church of S. Eufemia is located in a panoramic position on a rock cliff of the Sasso di Musso. You can reach it only by foot from the village Genico, by following a path which was probabilly built by the Romans. From the church there is a lovely...

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...

Set high above Musso with stunning views of the lake is San Bernardo who’s origins date from the 1700’s. It is a particularly scenic spot, with the Albano valley behind it and the elegant pyramid of mount Legnone opposite with the bay of Piona and...

This church was built between 1464 and 1474. Its bell tower still preserves pre-existing Romanesque elements. Inside, the church is richly decorated with paintings On the front of the church a large white marble portal shows decorations and symbols...

The parish church of St. Salvatore is located in the village of Vercana and it has a real breathtaking view of Lake of Como. The exterior of the church is very simple the interior, instead, has the most rich and beautiful baroque decorations of the...

Of Romanesque origins; and one of the most oldest parish churches on Lake Como. Its present appearance derives from renovations made in the seventeenth century. lnside: there are frescoes from the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries; a fourteenth...

Church built and updated from 1630 until the 18th century. Situated on hill top with view of Vercana and Lake Como....

Baroque transformations have virtually erased the Romanesque structure of this 13th century church, but there is still evidence of the Renaissance, as the silver cross Golden Giovan Pietro Lierni (1533), the wooden crucifix of the high altar, and...

Originating on a 13th century temple site, this 15th century church was dedicated to San Bernardino, a preacher who crossed Italy on foot preaching religious reform, social justice and working for peace. The last significant extension was completed...

In Gravedona traces of medieval times are found along the banks, there where the lakeside reveals a rare and beautiful church: St. Maria del Tiglio. Its architectural design made the 'Maestri Comacini' famous then and renders proud the people of...

Its origins go back to the Middle Ages of which only remains the gothic bell tower. The church stands in an isolated position, just below the village Aurogna. The view of the northern end of the lake, where the rivers Mera and Adda flow into Lake...

The roman church is surrounded by a large garden of plane trees. It is traditionally thought to have been erected over the site where the two Martyrs were tortured to death and then buried. It is believed that their bodies were found towards the...

The pastoral visit made by Bishop Ninguarda in the late sixteenth century to Brenzio resulted in this church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. At the time there were 450 parishioners. Within St. John the Baptist is the Oratory of St. Joseph. By...

This church is located in the village Nobiallo just north of Menaggio. The houses are clustered around the church which stands on the Antica Strada Regina, the antique Roman Road that connected Como with Alpine passes. The characteristic leaning...

The parish church of Saints Nazaro Celso with the black-white Gothic front, was built in 1348 by Giovanni Ugo di Campione and architects from the valley Intelvi. The church has some beautiful rose windows and frescoes of the Lombard school. The...

Believed to be the site of a miracle where a fresco of the Madonna and child shed tears. The Sanctuary is located along the main road just past the ridge over the river Albano. It dates back to the period a miracle happened in 1553. According to the...

A simple, hut-like church, interrupted only by two slits and, at the top by a cross window. The church S. Maria in Martinico rises in a slightly elevated position compared with the center of Dongo. Below, the simple portal opens up with a architrave...

This is one of the oldest churches in the Lake Como area and the oldest one in Varenna. Dated back at the 11th century, this Church is defined by the Belfry built toward the lake, as usual at that time, and it keeps inside few frescoes from the 14th...

The Piona Priory or Piona Abbey, is a religious complex on the Lecco bank of Lake Como in the territory of the municipality of Colico, northern Italy. The abbey is set at the top of a small peninsula, the Olgiasca, which – like a crooked finger –...

The extraordinary Romanesque church of S. Maria del Tiglio, that stands approximately 800 m left of the boat dock. It is one of the most important Romanesque buildings of the province. Built in the XII century it preserves precious frescoes and a...

Consecrated on 1313, the parish church of San Giorgio is a small masterpiece of the 14th century Lombardy architecture. Located in the main square, this is a basilica with nave and two aisles embellished by a rose window and a fresco portraying...

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....

The building now houses the Civic Archaeological Museum Paolo Giovio, is one of the most interesting palaces of the city of Como and retains part of the eighteenth-century interior. The palace, located in a square within the walled city and includes...

Dates from the late eighteenth century but has undergone major renovations and expansions over time. Villa Giovio is located within a park, part of which runs along the long driveway that leads directly to the front of the building whose rustic...

Villa and conference centre with an extensive English Garden. The construction of the villa, built perhaps on the remains of an ancient fortification dating back to the sixteenth century. The beautiful terraces of the park, with steps, balustrades...

Migliavacca villa dates back to the early 1900’s and was built by Antonio Migliavacca, a well-known Milanese frequenter of Valsassina and pioneer of the tourist development of the valley. The beautiful building is located in a park in the center of...

Built for the Abbot Marco Gallio on the site of Paolo Giovio's sixteenth-century villa called "The Museum", it dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It has a simple layout, with two loggias on the ground floor, one facing the lake...

The villa is now headquarters of Antonio Ratti foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the culture of textiles and contemporary art. It was built between 19th and the beginning of 20th century and belonged to different people. Among them...

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...

Villa del Grumello is an historical mansion placed in a breathtaking setting: a wonderful park overlooking the lake. The villa’s interior can only be experienced for special functions and events but its majestic exterior can be viewed by the public...

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...

Built in 1790 and renovated in 1850 in neoclassical form, Villa Geno is located alongside the famous Como fountain, featuring a jet of water 30 meters high. It is set in a unique natural complex consisting of the Lake and the promontory as a...

Private villa viewable only from outside or the lake. Owned by Count Mario Allamel, a very affable host who frequently invited with Cernobbio’s citizens to literary events and music in the beautiful garden and gazebo. It is located on a lakefront...

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...

Presently the municipal office for the town of Cavallasca and tourist office for Spina Verde Park, the villa is surrounded by a beautiful park and terraces. The building has important wall paintings, mythological and biblical in theme. Noteworthy...

Available for private rental with chef and all modern amenities. Also known as Villa Taglioni, after the original owner, ballerina Marie Taglioni who in lived in the feudal home for forty years. The property later went to Michele Riccardi, owner of...

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,...

The Villa Erker Hocevar is surrounded by a large garden, overlooking the road along the lake, which is directly connected by a passageway. Built between 1829 and 1830, the villa's fame is tied to a long stay of Vincenzo Bellini, famed opera...

Built around 1850 by Russian Prince Troubetzkoy, married to one of the daughters of famous Ballerina Marta Taglioni. The Prince came to the area after having served six months heavy labour in a Siberia for plotting against Czar Nicholas I. He...

Located in a panoramic position between the inlet of Loppia and the hamlet of San Giovanni, Villa Taverna was built by Count Paolo Taverna at the end of the eighteenth century. The villa is a private residence and can only be seen from the lake. The...

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...

It is one of the most famous villas of the lake, set apart and sad, with a mysterious and disquieting aspect. It seems that upon the building heap an inscrutable aura, quite as the ghosts that disturbed its first owner, the count Giovanni Anguissola...

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,...

Following a stay in Lake Como, George Clooney was fascinated by the area and bought a house in Laglio, a villa of the eighteenth century called Villa Oleandra. He later became an honorary citizen of the small lakeside town and sits on the committee...

A fascinating museum-house of the XIX century that belonged to Enrico Mylius, a German patron and a friend of Goethe and Manzoni, who collected works of important artists. The garden, rich with sculptures and rare plants, gives the opportunity of a...

Restored villa located next to Villa Mylius Vigoni with beautiful grounds and views of the lake. The building is currently used as a conference facility but up to the 19th century it was a silk mill. This property was owned by the family of the...

Located next to Villa d’Este, this villa is in the private hands of the Volpi-Bassani family. The gardens can be visited during the week by groups of ten or more. Villa Pizzo Cernobbio: Giovanni Muggiasca purchased the farmland on the Pizzo...

Villa Bernasconi is one of the most precious examples of art nouveau in Italy. It is owned by the town of Cernobbio and is now a cultural center hosting exhibitions and events. It was built before 1905 in Cernobbio, not directly on the lake but not...

Villa Saporiti or "La Rotonda" in Como owes its name to the elliptical hall that protrudes towards the lake. Villa Saporiti was built at the end of the eighteenth century for the marquis Villani of Milani on a design by Leopoldo Pollack. The...

Villa Erba is a 19th-century villa in Cernobbio, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. It serves as a world-renown conference centre and was the filming location for Ocean’s Twelve in 2004 and Gwen Stefani's single "Cool". Villa Erba was built by Luigi...

Villa Fontanelle is near Moltrasio on the Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Milan. Presently owned by Russian billionaire Arkady Novikov, this villa was once home to Gianni Versace who lived there until his murder in 1997....

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...

Stately neoclassical building dating back to the end of 1700. It has an Italian garden at the front and an English park at the back with secular trees and woody plants. The villa belongs to the City Council which uses it for conventions, events and...

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...