Menaggio and surroundings
Menaggio
Menaggio is an elegant little town with a historic old town and romantic alleys, situated on Lake Como and in the mountains. Here you will find fine restaurants and rustic pizzerias without having to search long. The town has a beautiful promenade along Lake Como with small cafés that invite you to stroll and linger. The piazza at the fishing port is considered the center of social life and is the meeting place for locals. Menaggio offers vernissages, concerts, and festivals all year round.
There is a lido with two pools, a beach volleyball court, a playground, a mini golf course, a restaurant, a beach bar and evening events in summer.
The town is ideally located near the centre of Lake Como (Menaggio is one of the corners of the Menaggio-Bellagio-Varenna Golden Triangle). The landing stage for hydrofoils and ferries provides connections to many places around Lake Como (regular connections to Como, Bellagio and Varenna).
These mountain villages are located above Menaggio:
- Loveno with the famous Villa Vigoni (dating back to the mid-19th century, a symbol of German-Italian friendship that continues to this day)
- Croce, with the renowned Menaggio e Cadenabbia Golf Club and a cosy inn offering breathtaking views
Menaggio also boasts its own local mountain, La Grona (1,736 m).
Tremezzo
Tremezzo was an independent municipality until 2014, when it merged with the municipality of Tremezzina. Konrad Adenauer had his permanent holiday residence here. His holiday home, Villa la Collina, is still used today by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation as an international meeting place. The town was also a holiday destination for other famous personalities, such as Giuseppe Verdi and Greta Garbo. Villa La Quiete, also known as Gioconda, is even a former residence of the abbot and poet Giuseppe Parini.
Another attraction in this small municipality is Villa Carlotta, which captivates visitors with its botanical park and sculpture collection. The famous 17th-century Villa La Carlia, designed by Antonio de Carli, is also located here.
Also worth a visit:
- The Church of San Lorenzo in the district of Bolvedro
- A tower from the High Middle Ages in Rogaro
- The Church of Santa Maria with its black Madonna in Rogaro
There are also many interesting places to visit in the area surrounding Tremezzo, such as Ossuccio with its Vergine del Soccorso chapel. Tremezzo has ferry connections to Bellagio and Varenna.
Mezzegra
Mezzegra has a picturesque old town stretching from Lake Como up the mountain, and its picturesque Piazza Magnolia by the lake is particularly charming. There are many excellent restaurants in Mezzegra, so you won’t have to go without culinary delights. There are also supermarkets and delicatessens of all kinds to cater for your daily needs.
There are six districts with (art) historical attractions:
- Small church of Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) from the 17th century with a wooden and plaster Pietà on the main altar
- Cross at the official place of Mussolini’s death
- Bonzanigo, a district richly decorated with murals and chapels
- The Palazzo Brentano, now the town hall, with Quaglia frescoes
- Parish Church of Saint Abbondio
- Stampi Mountain: Fossils in the rock resembling horse hooves (numerous legends, such as the anchorage point of Noah’s Ark)
Lenno
Lenno was a small municipality with a sun-drenched bay. In 2014, it merged with Tremezzo and Mezzegra to form the municipality of Tremezzina. The Villa del Balbianello, built there, boasts unique landscape and villa architecture and is always worth a visit. There are many cafés, gelaterias and restaurants in the bay of Lenno on Lake Como.
The Church of Santo Stefano is located directly in the village, and the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria dell’Acquafredda towers above the village.
Ossuccio
The Vergine del Soccorso chapel is located in Ossuccio.
Isola Comacina Island
Isola Comacina is hilly and the only island on Lake Como. It is located opposite Sala Comacina and Ossuccio. The island offers beautiful walking trails and a kiosk where you can stop for refreshments.
The island is 500 metres long and 120 metres wide and has an eventful and historic past. Here you will find, for example, valuable mosaics from Roman times.
One highlight is the Locanda dell’Isola: a popular restaurant where, according to ancient custom, a ceremony is held after every meal to ward off the bishop’s curse, which was pronounced on the island in the 12th century.
Activities and highlights in and around San Siro
Transport links
By car:
- Cadenabbia (approx. 4 km), Como (approx. 36 km) and Lugano (approx. 28 km) are popular destinations for day trips by car.
- Also nice: day trip to Milan (approx. 85 km)
By Boat
- Regular boat connections from Menaggio to Como, Bellagio and Varenna
- Boat landing stages in Cadenabbia, Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo
Swimming opportunities, beaches & pools
Menaggio:
-
- Boat moorings at Lido Giardino beach resort: Well-maintained public beach at the entrance to the town with a large swimming pool and children’s pool, sand and grass play area, beach volleyball court, playground, mini golf course, restaurant and beach bar with evening events in summer, Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo.
- Beautiful bathing beach between Menaggio and Cadenabbia with kiosk/toilets, boat hire, surfing and water skiing school
Tremezzo:
-
- Schöner kostenfreier Park in Tremezzo mit Bistro-Pavillon und gepflegter Rasenfläche zum Sonnenbaden und Spielen mit direktem Seezugang über Treppen
Cadenabbia:
-
- Lido beach resort by the lake
Lenno:
-
- Swimming facilities next to the Hotel San Giorgio
- In Lenno there are several beautiful small beaches and the Lido di Lenno in the bay with a lovely atmosphere, well-kept sandy beach, deckchairs, beach bar and beach restaurant.
Boat hire and moorings
- Motorboat hire without a licence or from 40 hp with or without a chauffeur and water ski schools in Lenno, Menaggio and Sala Comacina
Sports
Golf:
-
- Golfplatz „Menaggio e Caddenabbia“ oberhalb von Menaggio
- 5 additional locations in the south near Como and Lugano, as well as in the north in Sondrio/Valtellina Valley
By bicycle
-
- Many touring options for mountain bikers in the surrounding mountains (well-developed mountain bike routes)
- There are opportunities for cycling tours both in the mountains and in the surrounding valleys.
Horse riding
-
- Manege del Ceresio riding school offering lessons for beginners and advanced riders of all ages (approx. 8 km from Lenno)
Tennis
-
- 3 tennis courts in Menaggio
- There are 2 tennis courts in Tremezzo, with more in the surrounding area.
Hiking, walking, mountaineering & climbing:
-
- Numerous mountain hikes with magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding mountains
- Panoramic trail to Como or to Sorico at the other end of the lake
Water skiing & wakeboarding
-
- Water ski schools in Lenno, Menaggio and Sala Comacin
Culture, Events & Entertainment
- Vernissages, concerts and festivals all year round in Menaggio
Markets
- Weekly market in Menaggio every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month from 7.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Weekly market in Porlezza every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Weekly market in Tremezzo every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
- Weekly market in Lenno every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Shopping & Dining
- Many restaurants, pizzerias and cafés in Menaggio
- Many cafés and restaurants along the lakeside promenade between Tremezzo, Mezzegra and Lenno
- Popular restaurant with a long tradition on Isola Comacina
- Good shopping facilities in Menaggio
Winter attractions in Como
- Alpine skiing / Nordic cross-country skiing / ice skating / ice boccia in attractive winter sports resorts (St. Moritz (CH), Bormio, Teglio, Madesimo)
- Ski touring and snowshoe hiking on the peaks above Menaggio
- Christmas markets and nativity scene exhibitions