Menaggio and surrounding area

Menaggio

Menaggio is an elegant town with a historic old town and romantic alleys, situated on Lake Como and on the mountain. Here you can find fine restaurants and quaint pizzerias without a long search. The town has a beautiful lakeside promenade on Lago di Como with small cafés, inviting you to stroll and linger. The piazza at the fishing harbour is considered the centre 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, beach volleyball court, playground, mini golf course, restaurant, beach bar and evening events in summer.

The town has an ideal location near the centre of Lake Como (Menaggio is one of the corners of the Golden Triangle Menaggio-Bellagio-Varenna). The pier for hydrofoils and ferries has connections to many places around Lake Como (regular connections to Como, Bellagio and Varenna).

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These mountain villages lie above Menaggio:

Loveno with the famous Villa Vigoni (from the mid-19th century, a symbol of German-Italian friendship that continues to this day)
Croce with the famous Menaggio e Cadenabbia Golf Club and a cosy inn with breathtaking views

Menaggio also has its local mountain, La Grona (1,736 m).

Tremezzo

Tremezzo was an independent municipality until 2014 and has since been part of the municipality of Tremezzina following a merger. 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 the holiday resort of 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 of the small municipality is Villa Carlotta, with its botanical park and sculpture collection. The famous 17th-century Villa La Carlia can also be found here and was designed by Antonio de Carli.

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 around 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 that stretches from Lake Como far up the mountain and captivates with its picturesque Piazza Magnolia on the lake. There are many very good restaurants in Mezzegra, so culinary delights are not neglected. There are also supermarkets and delicatessens of all kinds for your daily needs.

There are six districts with (art) historical attractions:

Little church of the Mother of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) from the 17th century. with Pietà made of wood and plaster at the main altar
Cross at the official place of Mussolini’s death
Bonzanigo, district richly decorated with murals and chapels
Palazzo Brentano, today’s town hall, with Quaglia frescoes
Parish church of Saint Abbondio
Mount of the Stampi: fossils in the rock resembling horses’ hooves (numerous legends such as Noah’s Ark anchorage)

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Lenno

Lenno was a small community and has a sunny bay. It was merged with Tremezzo and Mezzegra in 2014 to form the municipality of Tremezzina. Villa del Balbianello, built there, has unique landscape and villa architecture and is always worth a visit. Many cafés, gelaterias and restaurants can be found in the bay of Lenno on Lake Como.

The church of Santo Stefano is right in the town and the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria dell’Acquafredda towers above the town.

Ossuccio

The Vergine del Soccorso Chapel is in Ossuccio.

Island "Isola Comacina"

Isola Comacina is hilly and the only island of Lake Como. It lies opposite Sala Comacina and Ossuccio. The island offers beautiful walks and a kiosk for refreshments.

The island is 500 metres long and 120 metres wide and has an eventful historical past. For example, you will find valuable mosaics from the Roman period.

A highlight is the Locanda dell’Isola: a popular restaurant where, according to ancient custom, a ceremony is held after every meal to banish the bishop’s curse, which was pronounced on the island in the 12th century.

Activities and highlights in Menaggio and surroundings

Transport connections from Menaggio

With the car:

Cadenabbia (approx. 4 km), Como (approx. 36 km) or Lugano (approx. 28 km) are popular destinations for excursions by car.
Also nice: Day trip to Milan (approx. 85 km)

By ship:

Regular boat connections from Menaggio to Como, Bellagio and Varenna.
Boat landing stages in Cadenabbia, Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo

Swimming, Beaches & Pools

Menaggio:

- Lido Giardino: Public, well-maintained bathing beach at the entrance to the village with 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.
- Beautiful bathing beach between Menaggio and Cadenabbia with kiosk/WC, boat hire, surfing and water-skiing school

Tremezzo:

- Beautiful free park in Tremezzo with bistro pavilion and well-maintained lawn for sunbathing and playing with direct lake access via steps

Cadenabbia:

- Lido on the lake

Lenno:

- Swimming next to the Hotel San Giorgio
- In Lenno several nice small beaches and the Lido di Lenno in the bay with a nice ambience, well-kept sandy beach, deckchairs, and beach bar and beach restaurant.

Boat hire and moorings

Motorboat hire free of licence or from 40 hp with and without chauffeur and water ski schools in Lenno, Menaggio and in Sala Comacina

Sports

Golf:

- Golf course “Menaggio e Caddenabbia” above Menaggio
- 5 further courses in the south near Como and Lugano, and in the north in Sondrio/Valtellina Valley

By bike

- Many touring possibilities for mountain bikers in the surrounding mountain world (well worked out mountain bike routes)
- There are opportunities for cycling tours both in the mountains and along the surrounding valleys

Riding

- Riding school “Manege del Ceresio” with riding lessons for beginners and advanced riders of all ages (approx. 8 km from Lenno)

Tennis

- 3 tennis courts in Menaggio
- 2 tennis courts are in Tremezzo, others in the surrounding area

Hiking, Walking, Mountaineering & Climbing:

- Many mountain hikes with magnificent panoramic views in the surrounding mountain world
- Panorama trail to Como or to the other end of the lake to Sorico

Water Ski & Wakeboards

- Water Ski Schools Lenno, Menaggio and in Sala Comacina

Culture, Events & Entertainment

Openings, concerts and festivals all year round in Menaggio

Markets

Weekly market in Menaggio every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month from 7.30-14 hrs.
Weekly market in Porlezza every Saturday from 7-18 h
Weekly market in Tremezzo every Thursday from 8-12.30 hrs.
Weekly market in Lenno every Tuesday from 8-14.30 h

Shopping & Feasting

Many restaurants, pizzerias and cafes in Menaggio
Many cafés and restaurants along the waterfront between Tremezzo, Mezzegra and Lenno
Popular restaurant with an old tradition on Isola Comacina
Good shopping in Menaggio

Winter attractions

Alpine skiing / Nordic cross-country skiing / ice skating / ice bowls in attractive winter sports resorts km ( St. Moritz (CH), Bormio, Teglio, Madesimo)
Touring skiing and snowshoe hiking on the peaks above Menaggio
Openings, concerts and festivals all year round in Menaggio