Discovering the Top 5 of the secret and spectacular places of Como Lake

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful and little known places of the Lario!
Como Lake is certainly one of the most famous lakes in the world for its beauty and its characteristic villages, but there are places that not even the local residents imagine the existence!
If you can no longer put a stop to your curiosity, go on reading the list of places below!

The Path of Olives Trees

On Como Lake there is not lack of nature discovery itineraries!
The Path of the Olives Tree takes its name from the Cost of the Olives Tree, a stretch that extends for 8 km in the eastern arm of the lake, south of Bellagio, in the Municipality of Oliveto Lario.
In this steep slope of the mountaint that at times plunges directly into the water of Como Lake, we find several paths that cross the hamlets of Onno, Vassena and Limonta, ancient villages characterized by the presence of Romanesque churches.

Along the way you cross olives trees from which you get a precious oil, but the wonderful thing is that at a certain point the olives trees give way to chestnut, hazelnut and oak woods, some of an impressive size.

To learn more about this wild and fascinating place visit the Portale Turistico Comune Oliveto Lario!

Path n.3  San Giorgio – Onno

•  Travel time: 15-20 minutes
• Grade of difficulty: the path is not difficult; winds through woods of chestnuts, hornbeams and hazelnut trees.

This is the ancient mule track to San Giorgio, which until the last century was the main link with the Valsassina and then with the plain, where the town of Onno is located, passing through Valbrona. It was an alternative deviation to the Via Ducale (Sentiero del Viandante) for merchants and travelers.

Arrived in San Giorgio (you can get there by car, there is a convenient parking lot) after the Residence for the Elderly continue straight on the path: the first section is flat, then a descent begins which will be constant in its slope. Immediately, you lose altitude by crossing the magnificent and secular chestnut groves. Here it is possible to admire some stretches of mule track, with stones set to rule of art.

However, BE CAREFUL that the landscape distracts a lot from the stones of the mule track that become slippery, particularly if it has recently rained.

Finally, the first roofs of the built-up area of Onno can be seen and this last stretch is flat. We have entered what the residents of Oliveto Lario call The Path of the Olive Trees.

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Publish your photos of The Path of the Olives Trees and of the Path n.3 San Giorgio – Onno below in the comments, or send them through email to info@comolake.com or through FB MESSANGER to our official page comolake.com

Troggia waterfall, the maldives of the Lario

Troggia is a stream that originates from Lake Sasso, its downstream waterfall with a jump of a hundred meters is one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena in the valley and is located in Introbio.
The show is remarkable!
The rocks surround the foamy waterfall and the water disappears into the pond, just as Leonardo da Vinci wrote.

Moreover, the Troggia joins the Pioverna stream, which, after crossing the entire Valsassina, roars in the gorges of the Orrido of Bellano and finally flows into Como Lake.

On hot summer days it is not uncommon to find bathers in the pond formed by the waterfall, or even in the pools of the Troggia stream further downstream, even if the water is always decidedly cold.

The waterfall is easily accessible along a path of just over 1 km that starts near the Ciresa or Norda plant.
Furthermore, the laziest can travel a stretch of road towards Val Biandino by car, park and walk to the base of the waterfall in 5-10 minutes.

Credits phots to: Joni Gjepali e Paolo Boschetti

Varenna

It is considered one of the most romantic villages of Como Lake, located in the Lecco branch of the Lario.
A romantic lakeside promenade, alleys that weave from the lake to the hinterland, a medieval castle and the marvelous historical villas, make Varenna a wonderful place.

Things that must be seen:

• VILLA MONASTERY
• FISHERMEN’S BEACH
• RIVA GRANDE E LAKEFRONT
• WALK OF LOVERS
• CHURCH AND SQUARE OF SAN GIORGIO
• CASTLE OF VEZIO E VILLA CYPRESSES

Walk of Lovers

The walk along the lakeside of Varenna, the walk of lovers, is one of the most romantic of Lake Como.
It is a short pedestrian path along a cantilevered water walkway that connects the Varenna landing stage with the center of the village.

The view that can be admired is something amazing, where the mountains embrace the sides of the Lario.
Varenna could be defined as one of the Cinque Terre (or perhaps at this point Six) of Lake Como.

Credits photos to: Chiara Ortelli e Luca Leone.

The Bridge of the Civera in Nesso

The Brisge of the Civera in Nesso is a Romanesque bridge, located in the historic core of the village of Nesso and is one of the main attractions of this town.
The bridge, famous because it is the set of many films, crosses the mouth of two local streams after the famous Orrido of Nesso, dug by the waters that flow from Pian del Tivano.

The show is remarkable above all in spring or after recent and abundant rains that enrich the waters of the streams.
You can pass under it with small boats, climbing a few dozen meters towards the ravine.

In conclusion, the most courageous and reckless during the summer season perform acrobatics and dives, jumping off the bridge itself.

Photos credits to: Sascha Brück

The seaside of Rezzonico

The village of Rezzonico is a true jewel outside the most touristic routes known for its castle and its link with Pope Clement XII, whose family, the Della Torre, seems to be native right here.

Rezzonico hides its secluded little beach, even the local residents: a cobblestone bay which can be accessed by following the narrow streets that descend from the town, leaving behind snow-capped peaks for most of the year.
A silent place animated only by a constant breeze that can cool even the hottest days.

Photo credits to: Chiara Ortelli