The Church of Torno San Giovanni
As you descend from Montepiatto, once you arrive in the town of Torno, you will surely notice the beautiful 12th-century bell tower with three orders of louvers: single lancet the first and double lancet the next; it is the bell tower of the wonderful church of St. Giovanni. Absolutely do not miss a visit to one of the most beautiful churches on Lake Como!
The interior consists of a single-nave hall; its warm light, majestic paintings and frescoes give the church a really unique atmosphere.
Behind the altar is hidden an important relic. The story goes that the German archbishop Alemanno, on his way to Germany at the end of a crusade, stopped in Torno for the night. With him he was carrying a sacred nail from the cross of Christ. Legend has it that, in the morning, a sudden storm forced him to postpone his departure. And that happened for days on end, so much so that the bishop interpreted the episodes as divine signs. It was then decided to leave the nail in Torno, in the local church of St. Giovanni. Inexplicably, the following day the waters calmed down and he was able to leave again, albeit empty-handed.
Today the nail is laid in a casket locked by seven keys: one kept by the parish priest and the other six vnenero given in guardianship to the six most important families in the village.
Just below the church you will find the cemetery of Torno, a monumental oasis of peace set on terraced grounds sloping down to the lake, one of the few in the world to offer such a striking view. The arrangement of the elements, the elegance of the details and the perfect integration with nature reveal an almost pictorial design, giving the place a poetry of true peace.
