Visit Lecco - Lake Como
Lecco, rich in unique natural beauty and nestled between lake and mountains, is the eastern gateway to the lake and entry point for the Valsassina. The city is dominated by the majestic silhouette of Mount Resegone.
Lecco is a city you absolutely must visit.
In 2005, during an excavation session in the Lecco surroundings, the oldest site of metallurgical production in the entire Alpine region came to light. This quarry was the precursor site of an activity that would be fundamental for the Lecco area in the two thousand years to follow.
Finds testify that a village of the Golasecca Culture - typical in early Iron Age - existed in the area.
The origin of the name Lecco is probably of Celtic provenance: the words Lech or Loch mean in fact lake (see Lake Lockness in Scotland).
In Roman times, however, Lecco was barely populated, and no historical finds of significant importance result.
It was in the Middle Ages, however, that Lecco acheived an important strategic and military role as a junction point between several routes that connected the Po Valley with the territories beyond the Alps.
During the 10-year war, Lecco allied with Milan and participated in the final siege of Como by sending a consistent fleet of ships. But the friendship with Milan was short-lived. In the following years, in fact, the two cities continued to face each other until Lecco was destroyed by the Visconti family. Then, with the fall of the Duchy of Milan, Lecco passed to Spain and was transformed into a military stronghold under Charles V.
In 1714 Lombardy passed to the Habsburgs of Austria, and Maria Theresa appointed Lecco as head of the parishes of Bellano, Mandello, Varenna, and Valsassina.
During the Lombard-Venetian Kingdom that followed, Lecco experienced a flourishing period of innovation, modernization, and industrial development, finally achieving widespread wealth.
During the first half of the 19th century Lecco found itself at the center of Italian culture: the Scapigliati of Milan - a cultural, literary, and artistic movement in North Italy - made the hamlet Maggianico one of their favorite meeting places.
Cultural ferment soon was linked to political ferment as well, bringing Lecco to the center stage during the Lombard Risorgimento.
In 1859, after the Second War of Independence, Lecco and Lombardy were annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia, the first embryo of the future Kingdom of Italy.
What to do, to visit and to see in Lecco
Lecco is the second largest city on the lake and because of its proximity to Milan is often a destination for Sunday trips. For this reason, we do not recommend visiting Lecco on holidays.
First route: visiting the Lecco lakefront
The route begins just past Lecco’s rowing center - Canottieri Lecco - where there is a large children's playground and an imposing war memorial.
Continuing northward, keeping the lake on your left, you soon come to Piazza Cermenati: here you will find the Palace of Fears - Palazzo delle Paure - formerly the Customs Building of the city - Palazzo della Dogana - which now houses a museum center with fixed and temporary exhibitions.
Walk alongside the main Piazza Cermenati overlooking the small gulf of Lecco and continue for more than a kilometer northward. The lakefront of Lecco is splendid and offers a promenade full of 19th-century villas and gardens.
The lakefront often hosts stands selling antiques and handmade objects.
Second route: visiting the basilica of St. Nicolò, the Visconti Tower and the shopping streets
From Piazza Cermenati you can climb the steps at your left and visit the basilica of San Nicolò with its beautiful 96-meter-high bell tower. It is among the ten tallest bell towers in Italy. If you want to enjoy an incredible view in the city, you can book a climb.
Back in Piazza Cermenati, walk down Via S. Nicolò and enter the pretty little Piazza XX Settembre, full of bistros and all kinds of stores. Here you will find the entrance to the Torre Viscontea, a museum venue that often hosts temporary exhibitions. If the exhibition is not of your interest, we still recommend you enter because of the architectural beauty of the tower.
So, continue to Via S. Nicolò and then turn left and go up Via Cavour: the latter is full of stores and is an ideal destination for shopping and fashion lovers.
Third route: Via Rusconi, walls of Porta Nuova and Belgiojoso Palace.
At the beginning of Piazza XX Settembre you can walk down the small Via Rusconi, recognizable by the large red sign of the Macelleria Salumeria Rusconi. You will see one of the most characteristic streets of ancient Lecco. Go up until you come to a traffic circle, called largo Montenero, where you will find the striking Porta Nuova Walls.
Continuing up Via Matteotti you will pass by a charming yellow building with beautiful Gothic-stained glass windows. This building was used as a canteen and recreation for the employees of the historic Badoni factory, one of the first Italian industrial settlements and dating back to the second half of the 1700s.
Going up the hill, after passing a second traffic circle, you come to Palazzo Belgiojoso. This is home to an important museum center which hists 4 sectors:
The Museum of Natural History
The Archeological Museum
The Historical Museum
The Planetarium
Its beautiful outdoor garden hosts several noteworthy pieces, included a very old and huge pomace press from 1559.
Fourth route: the Lecco Rowing Club and the Shrine Beata Vergine della Vittoria.
At the beginning of the lakefront, where an imposing war memorial stands, you will notice a very distinctive building that has nothing to do with local architecture. It is the headquarters of the historic Canottieri Lecco, the rowing club of the city. In fact, the ancient old town grew up around a stand in perfect British style, built for the Voltiana Exhibition in Como at the end of the nineteenth century.
The stand was then purchased by the Canottieri for 500 liras and relocated to Lecco. Entrance is usually for members only, but you can try and ask for access to go to the inside bar; the visit is well worth it.
Then go up the large two-lane street (Via Costituzione) direction Piazza Manzoni. Here you will find the Beata Vergine della Vittoria Sanctuary, a spectacular religious building that is well worth a visit. Ask to the priest for a private tour of the crypt. He will be happy to accompany you.
Nice ideas for short trips in Lecco
Five kilometers away from Lecco is the Castello dell'Innominato, 180 meters above lake level. It can be reached by walking a short 30-minute scenic trail from the Sanctuary of San Girolamo. Its impassable and grim location, which sumptuously overlooks the Lake Garlate, inspired Alessandro Manzoni in his description of his Castello dell'Innominato.
Museum, villas, monuments and sights
Events, festivals and music in Lecco
Beaches and lidos, where to swim in Lecco
Coming soon
Best treks and scenic hiking trails in Lecco
If you want to go trekking, hiking or nordic-walling on Lake Como and discover trails above the Lecco mountains, we recommend the team HIKING LAKE COMO. Francesca and Mario are professional and passionate certified guides, as well as enthusiastic local people. Contact here.
How to get to Lecco