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What to see on Lake Como
4-days itinerary on the Lecco branch of the Lake
“That branch of Lake Como, which turns towards the south, between two uninterrupted chains of mountains, all with bays and gulfs (…)”
Alessandro Manzoni (a famous italian writer) describes the eastern branch of Lake Como.
This is exactly where we want to take you today: on an itinerary that in four days will allow you to discover the main attractions of this splendid area.
We start from Lecco, the provincial main town. Although it can be defined as a city, with its 47,000 inhabitants, Lecco maintains that lakeside town spirit which always makes it warm and welcoming. You will notice this when walking through the streets of the center and the beautiful lakeside promenade, animated in summer by many bars and shops. In a day in Lecco you will have the opportunity to discover its main places of art and culture and its historic center.
Any advice to end the day in style? An aperitif in Malgrate, to admire the lake from another perspective and Lecco in its entirety.
After leaving Lecco, we set off to explore the smaller towns that go up the coast towards the north.
The ideal is to base yourself in Mandello del Lario and, from here, move around during the day to discover the various places.
On the second day, a good idea would be to visit the ancient village of Mandello del Lario (following the itinerary we have described here) and dedicate a few hours to pure and healthy relaxation on the lake shore. There are many beaches, the best are certainly those of Abbadia, Mandello del Lario and Lierna.
The want to dedicate third day mainly to the discovery of Varenna and its surroundings.
An ancient lakeside village, Varenna is today one of the most beautiful on the lake.
The romantic walk on the lake and its steep alleys are not easily forgivable.
Spend the day wandering around the narrow streets and visiting the botanical gardens of its splendid villas and then spend a few hours visiting the castle of Vezio, in the mountains behind Varenna.
We begin the fourth and final day with a visit to “Orrido di Bellano”, a deep canyon carved by water into the mountains over the millennia. Today a dense system of walkways allows you to visit this suggestive place where water and plays of light create a unique atmosphere.
Another great point of interest in the area is certainly the Cistercian abbey of Piona, today still inhabited by monks, but open to visitors.
A rare jewel of Romanesque architecture, for the visitor it is like an oasis of peace and beauty overlooking the lake.
Tired from all this sightseeing?!
Well, take a dip in the waters of the lake: the beaches of Dervio and Colico are among the best on the lake.
Thus ends the fourth day on the eastern branch of Lake Como.
There would still be many things to see… but for this time it ends here.
If you are curious to discover the other wonders of these places, find out the other articles on our blog.
