Sights of Como – 20 most interesting places

Tourists from all over the world come to this wonderful lake. Amazing nature, mild climate and an abundance of historical sites beckon. And so it has always been. Representatives of the noble families of Europe lived for a long time in coastal villas. Even Empress Maria Feodorovna Romanova rented one of the estates for 2 whole years. The doctor recommended to her the mountain-lake climate to improve her health. The sights of Como leave no one indifferent: everything here is imbued with the spirit of the Middle Ages.

Baradello Castle

Castello Baradello is an ancient building, the exact date is not called by historians. But the tower constantly participated in all significant battles that took place in Italy:

1. In the fortress, built on a high hill, in the 6th century the local garrison defended itself against the warlike Lombards. The defenders held out for about 20 years.
2. In the 12th century, a war broke out between Milan and Como. The Milanese defeated the opponents, the city was burned and plundered. But Baradello successfully repulsed all attacks and resisted.
3. At the end of the 12th century, the garrison defended itself against the troops of the Lombard League. In 1778, by order of Frederick Barbarossa, Baradello was further fortified and rebuilt. It is the towers of this fortress that tourists see today.
4. In the 13th century, the cellars of Baradello became a prison for the losers of another Della Torre war. And the victorious Visconti once again rebuilt the castle.
5. In the 16th century, Baradello is back in the spotlight. During the war between France and the Holy Roman Empire, it is ordered to be destroyed so that the French army does not use excellent fortifications. Luckily, a few towers remain.

The owners of Baradello also changed. At first the castle belonged to the city, then to the Roman Catholic Church, then to the city again. Today, tourists willingly visit the picturesque place on the top of the hill. But it is important to remember: guests go inside the fortress in organized groups of at least 10 people.

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Villa Olmo

The first owner of the palace was the Marquis Odescalchi. It was he who named the estate Olmo because of the elm planted by Pliny the Younger. The construction of the mansion went on for about 20 years. The result is a very modest outside and richly decorated inside the building. When designing, the architect adhered to the traditions of neoclassicism, but the interiors were created by the famous Fontana. Its frescoes have been perfectly preserved, and the stucco and gilding have been updated during restoration.

In general, the park of the villa attracts tourists even more than the building itself. A small home temple was built in it, a man-made stream flows. And right at the house, guests are greeted by an unusual fountain: small children play animatedly with a sea monster. The park is very clean and well maintained, one of the alleys descends to the picturesque lake. It is nice to take a walk and take a break from the daytime stuffiness. At different times, Napoleon Bonaparte, the queens of Sardinia, Sicily, Giuseppe Garibaldi visited Olmo. This adds to the charm of the villa.

Duomo Cathedral

This temple is famous not only in Como, but also in Lombardy. No wonder: it was built almost 4 centuries. The result is a unique building that combines Gothic and Baroque features. True, historians believe that some details do not harmonize with each other at all. The baroque dome looks ugly next to the gothic walls, the sculptures stand out from the general picture.

Before the start of work, a small church of Santa Maria Maggiore stood on this site. It became dilapidated, no longer able to accommodate all the parishioners, and it was decided to build a grandiose cathedral. The Duomo in Milan was chosen as a model. The structure turned out to be grandiose: 87x56x75 m. The portal is remarkable, which is surrounded by statues of Pliny, the Younger and the Elder, natives of Como. It is photographed by all, without exception, tourists. The interior spaces are planned so that the visitor finds himself inside a Catholic cross divided by chords.

The interiors are amazing:

Despite a bizarre mixture of styles, the Duomo is the last cathedral built in the Gothic tradition in the province of Lombardy.

Temple of Volta

Alessandro Volta was born and lived all his life in Como. He not only invented the electric battery, but did a lot of useful things for the inhabitants of the city:

Napoleon Bonaparte respected Volta so much that he once ordered to change the dedication of the Great Voltaire to the Great Volta on the found wreath of laurel.

Volt's life is rather unusual. He is the illegitimate son of an aristocrat and a priest, who was brought up by a nurse until the age of 3. Only at the age of 7, Volta entered the care of his uncle, a priest, who began to teach the child the sciences. Alessandro excelled in all sciences, but he was especially attracted by music and physics. The young man studies Halley's comet, reads the works of Isaac Newton. Despite his penchant for the exact sciences, Volta led the Faculty of Philosophy in Padua for some time.

And yet it was the discovery of chemical electric batteries that made the scientist famous. The temple (monument) was erected for the 100th anniversary of the death of Volta on the shore of the lake. The architect took the Pantheon as a basis, but added neoclassical elements. Today the building houses a museum of the scientist. Here you can see letters, personal belongings, documents, models of inventions of the great physicist.

Giuseppe Garibaldi Historical Museum

The exposition is housed in a historic building: the Olginati House, where Giuseppe Garibaldi was often received. But the wrestler himself owns a small number of artifacts. Tourists interested in the history of the country will find the stands interesting.

In addition, household items of the surrounding peasants are exhibited in the center. Here are furniture, ceramics, fabrics, clothes, decorations that were in the everyday life of local residents of the 18-19th centuries. Unfortunately, some exhibits only have information boards in Italian.

Basilica of Saint Abbondio

On the site of the temple there used to be the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. And the basilica was built in order to store Christian relics brought from Rome by Bishop Amantius. Soon the episcopal see, by order of Alberic, was transferred to the city. the basilica was owned by the Benedictines.

At this time, the building acquired details characteristic of the Romanesque style. And they consecrated the basilica in honor of the successor of Alberic – Abbondio. The service was conducted by Urban II himself. In the 11th century, the basilica consisted of a nave in the center and side aisles (4 pieces). And in the Middle Ages, a monastery was attached to the temple. In the 14th century, the interiors of the building were decorated with frescoes.

Today the basilica attracts tourists:

If you're lucky, you can listen to a children's choir singing in the basilica. The monastery buildings are being restored, then the law faculty of the local university will be located here.

Silk Museum

There are as many as 3 large silk museums in the city district:

Most often, tourists visit the 2nd. Until now, the textile school of Pietro Pinketti has been working with him. The silkworm stolen by the monks appeared in Italy in the 15th century, but production began only in the 16th century. In order for the work to go at full speed, the surrounding farmers were forced to plant mulberry trees and feed caterpillars on them. Cocoons were taken to factories under construction.

In the 16th century, there were a great many large and small manufactories in the district. But in the 20th century, the silk industry began to decline: some of the technical buildings were converted into residential buildings or offices. Only the most profitable enterprises survived. The production had a full cycle: from the manufacture of raw materials to the dyeing of finished fabrics. In the last operation, local weavers were especially successful: they made templates from wood and printed patterns using natural dyes.

The silk boom continued until the middle of the 20th century. But even now the district produces exquisite and fashionable fabrics from magical silkworm threads. Today, in the center, you can see the machines and tools that were used to make elegant fabrics in the 19th and 20th centuries, samples of dyes and templates that were used to make sad drawings. The museum has a shop where tourists buy products from unique fabrics. The choice is unusually wide.

Villa Balbianello

This villa can be seen in both Star Wars and Bond. Stunning nature, original buildings seem to be created to be used as scenery for films.

Balbianello changed owners several times:

1. It was built for himself in 1787 by Cardinal Durini. There used to be a monastery on this site.
2. After the death of the prelate, the villa was inherited by his nephew, Porro-Lambertiani.
3. He sold the estate to the wealthy merchant Arconati.
4. Then the villa got a new owner (American officer Ames). He carried out work on the restoration of the estate and the park.
5. In 1974, another change of owners. This time the villa was bought by the traveler and explorer Monzino.
6. According to the will, Balbianello becomes the property of the Italian Foundation.

The location of the estate is picturesque: it is built on a cape, deeply protruding into the lake. The boat offers wonderful, ever-changing views. There are many pleasure yachts nearby: some tourists prefer to admire Balbianello from the water. You can see an excellent pier, terraces with stone sculptures and facades of houses.

The park is open to free access, but keep in mind that the entrance of guests stops at 5 pm. And the museum is open only in summer (May-October). In order to admire the original interiors, you should purchase a ticket. And one more option: the estate can be rented for a solemn ceremony (wedding, birthday). But it's quite expensive.

Villa Erba

Some tourists consider the Erba estate to be the most picturesque on the coast of the lake. But to turn into such, it took a change of several owners. And everyone had their own ideas about beauty:

1. Initially, at the confluence of the Brejgia into the lake, there was a monastery belonging to the Order of St. Benedict. But the monks withdrew when Austria occupied the area. All the property of the Benedictines (land and buildings) was in the hands of private individuals.
2. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Marquise of Calderara used the monastery foundations for her own purposes. She built a luxurious building, and transformed the gardens of the Benedictines into an English park.
3. At the end of the 19th century, the wealthy industrialist Erba buys the estate. This begins a new page in the history of the palace. Erba demolishes the buildings and hires Borsani and Salvoni to design a new complex. Architects erect a building in the traditions of the Renaissance. And the interiors were created by the famous Lorenzoli and Fontana.
4. At the end of the 20th century, the estate came under the ownership of AO Villa Erba. The consortium is working on the creation of modern exhibition complexes. Using modern building materials, the architects managed to organically fit the buildings into the existing landscape. Now the glass buildings seem like elegant greenhouses.

Erbo hosted celebrities: the great Visconti lived here in his childhood and adulthood. A small exposition is devoted to these events. Today, exhibitions and presentations are held on the territory. Tourists willingly visit an unusual complex.

Villa Carlotta

What tourists admire today was created by the owners of the estate over the centuries:

1. At the end of the 17th century, the banker Clerici decided to build an estate for himself on the picturesque shore of the lake. No sooner said than done. They built a house and laid out a fashionable Italian park.
2. At the beginning of the 19th century, the industrialist and politician Sommariva bought the estate. He was short-handed with Napoleon Bonaparte himself, so he easily satisfied his passion as a collector. Sommariva acquired works of art from all over the world.
3. In the 50s of the 19th century, Princess Marianne bought the estate. She immediately gave it to her daughter Carlotta for her marriage. The gift came in handy: Carlotta's husband George II was fond of botany, and the luxurious garden served as a field for the prince's experiments.

The interiors of the 17th-19th centuries have been preserved in the palace. Here you can admire the exhibition of sculptures by Canova. Some are original, some are plaster copies. Each exhibit has a sign. The veranda offers a wonderful panorama of the lake. For the convenience of guests, there are benches where you can rest and enjoy the views. The park occupies a vast territory: the shortest walk will take 1.5-2 hours. At the box office, when buying a ticket, a map with routes is issued, so it is impossible to get lost. Alleys suddenly come out to steep banks, where observation platforms are arranged.

Villa d'Este

The estate was built in the 16th century by Cardinal d'Este in 1550. But the final concept of construction took shape only by 1560. The d'Este family descended from Hercules. That is why the architects were given the task of creating a shelter for the Hesperides.

The main element of the ensemble was the statue of the hero, and the whole complex was the embodiment of myths in the natural environment. This was quite common during the Renaissance. The interiors of the palace were created by the famous Agresti and Zuccaro. They separated the rooms with Flanders tapestries, walls and ceilings were decorated with stucco and frescoes, and ancient statues stood in the halls. Unfortunately, some of the interiors were lost.

Then the villa changed owners with enviable regularity:

1. The park was designed by d'Este's heir, Cardinal Alessandro. He attracted Bernini to work.
2. At the beginning of the 19th century, the neglected estate was acquired by Franz Habsburg.
3. At the beginning of the 20th century, d'Este was owned by Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was later killed in Sarajevo.
4. After the outbreak of the 1st World War, the estate became state property. In the 1920s, a large-scale reconstruction was required (the estate was destroyed by aerial bombs).

Today, on the territory of d'Este there is a fashionable (and expensive) hotel: for the convenience of guests, the entrance of strangers is limited. But you can still go to the park: just order lunch at the local Sporting Grill restaurant.

Villa Pizzo

This estate has changed owners many times in its history:

1. The Raimondi family owned a house and a vast territory from the shore of the lake to the foot of the mountains. It was all this that was bought in the 15th century by the rich merchant Mujaska.
2. In the 16th century, after the victory in the war, the estate passed to the representative of the Sforza family, Speciano. The new owners began to build a house on the old foundation and at the same time clear the park.
3. In the 17th century, Pizzo returns to the Mujaska clan. Here the family is waiting for the plague. The new (old) owners are planting vineyards and olive groves, laying out a park in a fashionable Italian style.
4. The last Mujaska had no heirs. He entrusted the estate to St. Anne's Hospital. The Order sells Pizzo to the Archduke of Austria. The monarch was fond of botany, so the garden became especially beautiful under him. The Italian park complemented the regular English.
5. In the 19th century, Pizzo belonged to the Frenchwoman Muzard, and then became the property of the Volli family. The Wally-Bessany still own the estate today.

Tourists can walk through the amazing park, where exotic plants are planted, visit the house and outbuildings.

Villa Monastero

The manor arose as a result of the restructuring of the convent of the Cisterian order. Work began in 1208. Then from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 19th century Monastero belonged to the Mornico family. Then the estate was owned by:

Of course, the buildings were adapted to the needs of the owners, but the general spirit of the medieval house was preserved. The marble staircase with gypsum elements organically fit into the overall color scheme. There is no other staircase like this anywhere in the world. An unusual bathroom is called Pompeian. In 1918, the Monastero was confiscated by the government and sold to Dr. Marchi. The scientist donated the property to the Institute of Hydrobiology. Today, tourists can walk around the huge park, visit the house. You can purchase a single entrance ticket, or you can pay for services separately.

Villa Cipressi

This estate was built in the 15th-16th centuries by the noble families of Italy. Subsequently, it was rebuilt until the 19th century by new owners. But everyone had enough tact to preserve the amazing atmosphere of a medieval house. In 1980, Cipressi became municipal property. The last reconstruction took place, and a good 3 * hotel was opened on the territory. But tourists staying in other places can take a walk in the cypress park, go down to the shore to the pier. For this pleasure you will have to pay a few euros.

Waterfall and Nesso Gorge

Nesso is a small town located at the confluence of Nozé and Tuf. The energy of water falling from a height of 200 m was used by local artisans. Today, there is no industry in this sleepy place, but the picturesque waterfall remains. You can watch the jets of water either from Piazza Castello or from the Roman Chivero Bridge. The beauty of the gorge, pierced by the Tuf and Nose rivers in the rocks, impressed Leonardo before Vinci, Loze, Bazzoni. All of them reflected it in their work.

Orrido Gorge

This fault formed 15 million years ago. Now, among the rocky ledges, the Pioverna River meanders, its waters form a picturesque waterfall. At first, the energy of water was used in leather and spinning workshops, oil mills. But after some time, the number of trading posts decreased, and patrons acquired the land.

They cleared and ennobled the territory and arranged a resting place in the gorge. For the convenience of tourists, a path with ascents and descents has been laid along a steep cliff. The steps are wooden and the railings are metal. Lighting is organized along the entire length of the route: you can walk here even in the dark. Below flows the recalcitrant Pioverna. There is a viewing platform at the end of the path.

From here you can see the waterfall very well. Below (at the place where the water falls) is a crystal clear lake. But getting down to it is difficult. Poets and artists come to Orrido in anticipation of inspiration. Ordinary tourists also spend a lot of time here, breathing in the cleanest air and enjoying the surrounding nature.

Circuit of Monza

Tourists come here to admire the unique Formula 1 track. Experts say that the presence of long straight sections allows even an unskilled racer with a car with a powerful engine to win. Tourists are met by employees, transported along the highway.

Show a small plot built in 1922: it was left unchanged. And in the souvenir shops you can buy Formula 1 souvenirs. For those who are hungry, there is a cafe serving dishes of national cuisine. If the impressions of the race track are not enough, you can take a walk in a luxurious park located very close by.

Visconti Tower

The tower is all that remains of the fortress of Lecco. It was built by Azzone Visconti in the 14th century. The fortification successfully performed its functions: the Iberian garrison was quartered in it. In the 15th century, the tower was completed: a top appeared with an elegant ornament and a passage. In the 18th century, the fortress began to interfere with the development of the city, and on the orders of Joseph 2 it was demolished. The vacated territory was sold for the construction of houses. Only the tower remained from the former fortification.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the building was restored and adapted for a prison. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, the tower became municipal property. Now the 1st floor hosts exhibitions and presentations, while the 2nd and 3rd floors are given over to the museum. There is a permanent exhibition dedicated to mountain tourism and mountaineering. Visitors can see the rest rooms for the guards and the armory. It exhibits stone shells from the 14th-16th centuries.

Village of Brunate

This mountainous village is located at an altitude of about 800 m above sea level. But getting there is quite simple: since 1800, a funicular has been regularly sent to it. The ascent takes just over 8 minutes. In the village, you should definitely see the temple of St. Andrew the First-Called. This saint patronizes Brunate. Unfortunately, the temple was often reconstructed and rebuilt.

Little remains of the original façade. But the interiors survived. In the church you can admire the amazing frescoes of the 17th century, created by Recchi. And be sure to listen to the local authority. It was built by the masters Prestinari in 1827. The holy relics of Mary Magdalene Albrichi are kept in the altar. A wonderful panorama opens from the final stop: the lake, villas, a valley with gardens and vineyards.

But if you want to see something else, you should climb even higher: to the Volta lighthouse. But you have to go on slippery stones, all the time up, for 1.5 km. This climb is not for everyone. Daring tourists should think about comfortable shoes. But the views from the lighthouse platform are amazing: you can see the snow-capped peaks of the majestic Alps.

Abbey of Peony

The first buildings were erected in the abbey in the 6th century. The Church of St. Nicholas stands on the ruins of an early Christian temple. It was the center of the future abbey. In the future, the church was surrounded by additional buildings. The complex is surrounded by nature untouched by man: it is pleasant to spend several hours here in solitude and peace.

The pride of the abbey are:

Some travelers claim that resting in the abbey is better than in the monasteries of Tibet. It is also attractive that they sell honey from their own apiary and liquors made by monks according to old recipes.

Attractions Como on the map