castles-and-ruins near Villa Migliavacca
Located on the northern slope of Monti Valletto (m. 2370) and Ponteranica (m. 2378). The construction of the dam, which occurred in the early years after World War II, expanded the lake’s capacity. Part of a popular hike to enjoy the beautiful views...
This waterfall originates from a cave at the bottom of the Palio Costa, near Morterone in Val Taleggio. There is also a popular pool deep enough for those who wish to brave a jump. The Enna can be visited along a spectacular gorge about 3 km long,...
The ice cave of Moncodeno is the most famous cave with glacial deposits in the Lombardia Region (even described by Leonardo Da Vinci). It is the symbol of the whole plateau of Moncodeno with its 1,190 m depth, it is one of the deepest caves in Italy...
The white church of San Calimero with its characteristic sloping roof red, is very well known in Northern Grigna. It stands clearly visible looking at the mountains above Pasturo and offers a spectacular view, overlooking the Valsassina, Zuccone...
The valley opens up to display a wide, green landscape that is pristine and wild. You can reach the Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve, symbol of the valley, and a rifugio of the same name where the view opens to the mountain Pizzo dei Tre Signori. It...
The walk of lovers is a short pedestrian path cantilevered over water in Varenna. It affords romantic views of Lake Como, the mountains, and the small village with its colourful houses perched at the foot of the cliff which is crowned at the top by...
An extraordinary natural sight the Troggia waterfall in Introbio Valsassina mentioned by Leonardo da Vinci in his Codex Atlanticus. The Troggia creek comes from Lake Sasso at the foot of Pizzo of Tre Signori and goes on along the Biandino valley...
A prominent natural arch located in Formazione di Esino is a unique opening on the side of a mountain. It is a relic of a previous large karst system in the area that is evidenced by several cavities. The present morphology is due to collapse or...
Hike that follows the course of a river, including potholes, waterfalls and waterholes of rare beauty. Forcing the hiker to numerous fords that, like it or not, they will often cool off your feet, especially during periods when the water flow is...
The waterfall Cenghen (or Waterfall Valley Monastery) is located at an altitude of about 600 meters above sea level. This waterfall is crossed by the waters of the stream Zerbo and, with a height of about 50 meters. The waterfall is easily reached...
Although it is not the highest mountain in the Lake Como area, the Grigna (pronounced "greenya") is by far the most prominent. For those of you that will be visiting the western shore of Lake Como, especially in the mid lake region, this is the...
One of the most walked and photographed passageways in the heart of Bellagio that is home to fashionable boutiques, restaurants and a variety of shops. This is just one of the many narrow streets that can be explored affording riveting views of the...
Monte Legnone is the highest peak in the immediate Lake Como area. The view from the top is definitely unforgettable. Monte Legnone is 2,610 metres high making it the highest peak in the Lake Como area. It is located at the north end of the lake,...
The Gorge, created by the river Pioverna, is a natural canyon where giant bowls and incredible caves have been carved out by the water over the centuries. A concrete footbridge allows visitors to admire this beauty from an extremely unique location....
The “Sentiero del Viandante" is an interesting route dating back to the Roman period, which runs along the eastern coast of Lake Como, from Abbadia Lariana to Piantedo, for 45 km. Fitted out in 1989, this walking path offers those who walk along it...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...