In yellow : tarmac road Colico In black : trekking paths SAN SIRO S. Siro Lake Como - Italy Lugano Bregagnino mt. 1950 Monte Grona mt. 1736 Monte Bregagno mt. 2107 Como S. Amate Lecco alta via Alpe Palù Alpe Rescanscia Alpe Sumero Rifugio Menaggio PHYSICAL FEATURES San Siro lies on the western shore of Lake Como (known M.ti di Treccione via dei monti lariani P Montuglio also as Lario), on the southern slopes of Mount Bregagno. P M.ti di Cremia Its territory borders with Cremia towards the north and M.ti di Gallio Menaggio and Plesio towards the south. San Siro is a little Naro over 38 km from Como and has a population of about 1800. Its area which covers 18.5 sq km, is made up of 20 Breglia via dei monti lariani hamlets (frazioni). Viewed from the lake, San Siro looks Carcente Camnasco Treccione like one big village elongated from Rezzonico to Acquaseria by the startling blue lake and many little villa- Maso ges climbing the beautifully green mountain. A blooming vegetation covers most of the area and hosts various spe- cies of animals and trees. In each and every hamlet visitors Gallio may enjoy picturesque spots with old fountains, chapels, small churches, bridges, archways, ruins of ancient con- San Martino Semnago Noledo vents and fortresses alternated with breathtaking views along cobblestone paths reminescents of Alessandro Soriano Manzoni’s world famous novel “I Promessi Sposi” (The Lucena Incisioni Rupestri Betrothed). Mastena Marena Pezzo Marledo Roncate antica via Regina La Torre antica via Regina Acquaseria Molvedo Santa Maria Rezzonico MENAGGIO CREMIA HISTORICAL OUTLINE Rezzonico (dialect Rescionegh), is the lakeside hamlet built on the slopes of a promontory above which towers a 14th century castle. It is rimmed with sunny cliffs, natural beaches, and ancient archways and there are three ancient SAN SIRO guard gates which probably date back to the 12th or 13th century. Close to the lake you can see two 18th century buildings whose portals display the coat of arms of the powerful Della Torre family. The name Rezzonico may originate from the Rhaetic people who lived here, from “Rhaeto”, an Etrurian captain who lived in the area or from Tra monti e lago the local term “risciulada” which indicates the cobblestone paving so typical of this village. Rezzonico could have been founded by the orobians, by the etrurians or by some of the gaul tribes (Celts and Senons), traces of them all having been found in several sites. We know for certain that the romans also settled here as testified by the famous roman historian Tito Livio. Two tablets with latin inscriptions (one now in Milan, the other in Menaggio), together with remanants of a massive wall, two fortifications and the road called “Strada Regina” also water to flow from rocks. The “scagliola” used to make the The ancient Via Regina goes south from Rezzonico to COMUNE DI SAN SIRO date back to roman times. Interesting and mysterious rock front of the little chapels dates back to the 17th century. The Acquaseria before continuing on to Nobiallo through “Sasso inscriptions have also been found in the woody areas bet- baptismal font is in white marble from Musso and dates Rancio” along a well preserved path boasting beautiful Via Don Giacomo Galli, 4 ween Roncate, Soriano and Vezzedo di Cremia. They back to 1511; its bas-reliefs representing the fight between belong to an ancient, unknown past and are still being exa- life and death. Set in the wall on the left of the presbytery forests, rocky cliffs and rustic views. Going north this old Loc. Acquaseria mined by experts and lovers of local history for their is a late renaissance marble tabernacle. roman road snakes through fields and chesnut trees until it 22010 San Siro CO anthropological relevance reaches Cremia. Tel : 0344 50015 / 50025 SANT’ABBONDIO S.Abbondio’s church is Fax : 0344 50668 / 50796 the original little chapel www.comune.sansiro.co.it of Acquaseria (latin [email protected] name; inter serineos). Built along the popular EMERGENCY “Via Regina” and on the First Aid 118 edge of the “centro stori- Menaggio Hospital 0344 33111 co” it may once have few steps from the highest tower there is a small church Gravedona Hospital 0344 92111 offered the ancient wal- known as “Church of the Three Kings”. kers, on their way from Carabinieri - Police 112 Menaggio to Rezzonico, Fire Brigade 115 a place where they could MUSEUM OF RURAL LIFE Banca Pop. di Sondrio 0344 50425 rest and offer a little pra- Conserved within the rural house of Carcente are artefacts yer to God for allowing and tools of the various trades of the villages including agri- MARKET them a safe passing Rezzonico 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday culture, farming, manual labour etc. illustrating a lost way of st rd through the infamous and life. Acquaseria 1 and 3 Friday treacherous “Sasso Rancio”. This little church is believed to be one of the oldest places of worship in the area. Research HOTEL CAMPING RISTORANTE SOLE into local archives reveals that it was restored around 1600 Loc. Santa Maria - tel. 0344 50089 and enriched on 12th September 1712 with an ecclesiastical From Soriano to Vezzedo di Cremia a narrow path leads privilege of saving the soul, upon request to local gentleman, through old chestnut trees to a small magical place where PENSIONE RISTORANTE LAURO Gian Pietro Pedrazzini of Pezzo. Taxes for this privilege many rocks hold mysterious carvings and inscriptions. The Loc. Rezzonico - tel. 0344 50029 were paid by villages from as far away as Torno, Musso and Garzeno. Although lacking in the stunning paintings and same place can be reached from the view point “Sass tajaa” which is situated between Lucena and Gallio (the first hair- RESIDENZA DA ANGELO ornaments of the prestigious church of S.Maria Assunta, Loc. Molvedo snc. - tel. 0344 50987 S.Abbondio’s church nevertheless boasts a unique if humble pin bend on the main road). charm. BED & BREAKFAST MIRAMUSI From Mastena a steep shady path leads to Marledo and then Loc. Rezzonico - tel. 0344 50095 up to San Martino and to its beautiful “piazza”. The return THE ROMAN FORTRESS offers two options, half way back, at a place called “piocc” BAR CARLO Along the main road, on the right-hand side of the church, it is possible to take a right and keep walking down the cob- Acquaseria - tel. 0344 50636 visitors will face an imposing six metre high wall. In the past blestone path towards Pezzo and then left back to Mastena it embraced the church itself and the “piazza”. Scholars or, from San Martino, another path takes to Lucena and from BAR PIAVE believe (and recent excavations seems to agree) this wall to there back to Mastena. Loc. Santa Maria - tel. 0344 50418 be what is left of an old fortress built to keep control of inland and water trade along the ancient “Strada Regina”. BAR PIZZERIA CREME CARAMEL NATURE WALKS Loc. Acquaseria - tel. 0344 50356 Walking along the paths which lead from one hamlet to ano- ther is a good way to see unique ancient buldings and to BAR PIZZERIA TRATTORIA DEI PLATANI enjoy lovely views of undisturbed natural scenery. The car- Loc. Rezzonico - tel. 0344 50139 riage road which leads from Santa Maria to the higher ham- LA TERRAZZA - BAR PASTICCERIA THE PARISH CHURCH AND OTHER MONUMENTS lets and eventually to “i monti” (formerly mountain pastu- Loc. Acquaseria - tel. 0344 50117 SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA res) offers 7 km of wonderful views of the lake. To the north, Santa Maria Assunta, the historical parish church, is situa- the magnificent beauty of the mountains of Valtellina are LOCANDA SAN MARTINO ted very close to the lake. It was built in the 15th century belittled only by the imposing stony face of the Mount Loc. San Martino - tel. 0344 50167 on the site of a preceding church consecrated to the Holy Legnone to the east while the “Pizzo dei tre Signori” and “la Virgin, which, in turn (according to reliable sources) was built on the ruins of a pagan temple. The parish church, Grigna” are also formidable reminders of the striking pre- ZANZIBAR consecrated to Santa Maria Assunta, was built between sence of the Alps. Below, the lake stretches from one end to Loc. Acquaseria - tel. 0344 50802 1464 and 1474 by the Dominicans. Romanesque elements the other and duly mirrors the natural wonders surrounding can be detected in the bell tower. On the front of the church its shores. RISTORANTE PIZZERIA DA LUIGI a large white marble portal shows decorations and symbols THE “CASTELLACCIO” Loc. Acquaseria - tel. 0344 517052 representing the Passion; on the left a high relief made of A little north from the roman fortress on a hillock guarding white marble from Musso shows the Holy Virgin with the the village of Rezzonico is the “Castellaccio”. The remains Christ Child. Inside, the first chapel on the right hosts a of an ancient four-sided tower and some large walls which From Carcente to Breglia a recently restored path crosses portray of Our Lady of Mercy decorated by Sigismondo de in the past probably joined the roman fortress to the south the valley between San Siro and Menaggio giving also the Magistris in 1541. The decorations of the Triumphal Arc and the walls of Rezzonico to the north. Local legends link chance of a well deserved rest at the shelter situated half with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary were painted by way. artists belonging to the de Magistris’s school. The 2nd and these remains to the mischevious deeds of a mysterious 4th chapels show frescoes of Dominican saints and date country gentleman of Spanish descent called “Il Ficano”.