Museums around Lake Como

Museums around Lake Como invite you to learn interesting facts about the country and its people – whatever the weather. Special highlights are the Hermann Hesse Museum near Lugano and the Motoguzzi Museum in Mandello del Lario. But fashion fans, cycling enthusiasts, hobby historians and treasure hunters also get their money’s worth.

There’s a museum for everyone on Lake Como!

Silk Museum in Como - Museo della Seta

The Museo della Seta presents the history of the local silk industry on an area of about 800 m². Opened in 1990, the museum tells the story of the silk town of Como and provides great insights into the development of silk manufacturing and production. Many historical and modern machines for silk production can be seen here.

The museum can be reached on foot in about 20 minutes from the cathedral. Via Castelnuovo,9 in Como. Of all the museums around Lake Como, the Silk Museum should be on your travel list.

Tel. 031 – 303180 Opening hours: Tue-Fri 9-12h / 15-18h

Information: www.museosetacomo.com/eng_home.php

Hermann Hesse Museum in Montagnola near Lugano

Hermann Hesse is the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature and is considered one of the most important writers of the 20th century. Hesse achieved great fame not least through his works “Der Steppenwolf” or “Narziß und Goldmund”. In the small but important Hermann Hesse Museum in the Torre Camuzzi, an ancient building in Montagnola near Lugano, visitors are invited to read and reflect and learn a great deal about the life and works of Hermann Hesse during his 40-year stay in Ticino. There are also interesting changing exhibitions.

Torre Camuzzi in Montagnola – Tel. +41(0)91 993 37 70
Opening hours:
1.3.-31.10: Mon-Sun 10:30-17:30h
1.11.-28.2: Sat-Sun 10:30-17:30h
Info: www.hessemontagnola.ch

Cycling museum in Madonna del Ghisallo

One of the museums around Lake Como is the cycling museum in Madonna del Ghisallo, where you can find cycling relics. If you drive up the winding road from Bellagio to Civenna, you will reach the Madonna del Ghisallo Museum. The small pilgrimage church overlooking Lake Como is dedicated to the patron saint of cyclists. Relics of cycling can be found if you ride up the winding road from Bellagio to Civenna and on to Madonna del Ghisallo. Cyclists and cycling enthusiasts get their money’s worth here.

P.le del Santuario, Magreglio

Opening hours:

1.11 to 31.03, Tue-Sat 10am to 5pm. Sun 9.30am to 5.30pm.
01.04 to 31.10, Tue-Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm. Sun 9am to 6pm. Closed on Monday

Info: www.museodelghisallo.it

Moto Guzzi Museum in Mandello del Lario

Of all the museums around Lake Como, the Moto Guzzi factory museum in Mandello del Lario (between Varenna and Lecco) is a particular highlight for motorbike fans. The history of Moto Guzzi is told here and there are numerous machines to admire. From almost 80 years of factory history, more than 100 series-produced models are exhibited here alongside numerous engine and motorbike prototypes, as well as racing motorbikes up to 1957, the Guzzi’s last year of racing, after more than 3300 victories.

Via Parodi, 63 in Mandello del Lario – Tel. 0341 – 709111

Opening hours: Fri-Sat 10:00-18:00h

Guided tours: Mon – Thu 14:30-16:30h / admission free.

Info: de.motoguzzi.it

Treasure Museum - Museo del Tesoro in Valchiavenna

In the ancient Roman town of Chiavenna, artistic, gastronomic and also craft highlights await you, such as the St. Lorenzo Collegiate Church with the “Museo del Tesoro” treasure museum. The highlight of the exhibition is the so-called “Pace di Chiavenna”, a Gospel book cover from the 11th century, made of applied gold, precious stones and precious miniatures.

Opening hours:
1.3.-31.10.2022: Tue, Thu, Sat 10-12:30h and 15-18h / Sun 10-12h / Mon, Wed, Fri closed
1.11.-28.2.2023: Tue-Fri 14-16 / Sat: 10-12h and 14-16h / Sun 14-17h
Info: www.valchiavenna.com/de/kultur/Schatzmuseum.html

The mill - Mulino die Bootonera in Valchiavenna

The mill “Mulino di Bottonera” in Chiavenna is also worth experiencing due to the original working atmosphere of the 19th century millers. The Bottonera mill was built in 1867 and is located in the craft quarter of Chiavenna.

Opening hours:
Temporarily closed
Info: www.valchiavenna.com/de/kultur/Die-Bottonera-Muehle.html

Natural History Museum in Valchiavenna

In Madesimo you come across a very interesting natural history museum – the “Museo etnografico della Valchiavenna” on the Via Mala, one of the oldest historical routes through the Alps that connected Central Europe with the Mediterranean. The museum was opened in 1982 and displays a unique collection of the influence that man has had and continues to have on Val Codera.

Opening hours: daily 8-18 h
Info: www.valchiavenna.com/en/culture/The-Natural-History-Museum-of-Ethnography-at-Val-Codera.html

We have brochures of some of the museums around Lake Como in stock at LABREVA. Simply ask our telephone team for information material for your holiday planning and leisure activities on Lake Como when you make your booking.

In our holiday homes, holiday flats and hotels on Lake Como you will also find a comprehensive information folder (VA BENE) with lots of tips and insider information about other museums in Italy, cultural events, sporting opportunities and other useful information for planning your holiday.

Are you a hobby artist yourself? Are you perhaps planning a longer inspirational creative trip to Lake Como and would like to set up a small holiday studio in your holiday home for painting, photography, sketching, designing? We would be delighted to assist you in planning your creative trip. For longer stays, please ask us for special conditions. Would you like to share your work with the other LABREVA guests? We are very interested in exhibiting your paintings or sculptures in our houses. Our service team is looking forward to your call.

Boat Museum Barca Lariana

At Via Regina 1268 in Pianello del Lario you will come across one of the most interesting museums around Lake Como: the Barca Lariana Boat Museum. A collection of 160 boats will take you back in time and show you the local shipping tradition of the last two centuries. A unique experience that lets you experience boating on Lake Como in a whole new way.

Opening hours: Fri, Sat, Sun 2pm – 6pm, Mon – Thurs on request (for groups of 15 or more).

Info: https://museobarcalariana.it/