14 del Lario Between Mandello del Lario and lake and surroundings mountains that you can’t miss Lake Como Comune di Mandello del Lario 1 Mandello city of motors Mandello del Lario is in the “circuit” of the heritage, the Museum keeps a very rich Cities of Motors, the National Network that collection of more than 150 pieces amongst collects the strongly representative subjects motorbikes, sport bikes, experimental in the national motoring scene. The aim prototypes and engines. They alternate in a is to protect and spread the knowledge temporal path to witness the glorious history of a heritage of technology, design and of a timeless Italian and worldwide myth. The innovation among the most important in the museum keeps really unique pieces, like the world. Mandello hosts some motor events first motorcycle built by Carlo Guzzi in 1919 related to the famous Moto Guzzi. The most and some of the most celebrated motorcycles awaited and appreciated is the Mandello del as the extraordinary “Otto Cilindri 500” of 1957. Lario International “Motoraduno”, which There are also vehicles that characterized has become an annual event. The town, the mobility of Italians in the post-war period, in the second weekend of September, on such as the “Motoleggera 65” [also known as the occasion of the birth anniversary of the “Guzzino”] and the “Galletto”, or some that well-known brand, welcomes thousands of reinvented the concept of sporting bikes at the motorcyclists with many events organized end of the 60s as the “V7 Sport “with the 90° to host and entertain them. The Moto Guzzi twin-cylinder V-engine. Next to the exhibition, Museum is located in the heart of the historic you can see the Moto Guzzi wind tunnel, the factory where the “Aquila” [the eagle is the only international plant for the aerodynamic symbol of the company] was born in 1921. test of motorcycles. With its historical, technical and cultural For opening hours visit the website www.visitmandello.it ➔ Next suggestion: The Maggiana Tower 2 The Maggiana Tower aka “of Barbarossa” “The Tower of Barbarossa” is located in a through a staircase, you reach the first floor of picturesque spot in the hamlet of Maggiana, the tower. On the various floors there are the and it allows us to take a dip in the past. original rooms [one with a really interesting The name of the tower, in fact, leads back to painted ceiling]. From the terrace on the top, the hospitality of the Mandelli family, who in you can enjoy a splendid view of the lake. 1158 hosted the Emperor Federico I, called Inside the building there is the Ethnographic “Barbarossa”. He would have used the Museum which tells and illustrates, through fortification to observe the naval battles objects and images dating back to the end on the facing Lecco branch of the Lake of of the 19th century and the first half of the Como, between the people from Milan [allies following century, the events of Maggiana and of the Lega Lombarda] and the ones from the way of life and work of the communities Como [allies of Barbarossa, together with that lived in these areas. It also keeps a Mandello]. With its size, the imposing building section dedicated to the Good Friday stands in a dominant position towards the Procession [“Venerdì Santo”] that took place lake. Its strategic location allowed to until the mid-50s [the tower is part of the dominate the paths that led to the Val Meria Museum System of the Province of Lecco]. and Piani Resinelli, formerly lands of pastures Every two years, the second weekend of June, and mines. The walls have ogival windows takes place “La Torre in Festa”, an event on each side alternates with loopholes. You inspired by the medieval tradition. can access across a large medieval door that leads into a small courtyard from which, For opening hours visit the website www.visitmandello.it ➔ Next suggestion: The three churches 3 The three churches The Church of San Giorgio once there was a temple and inside there is It stands on a plan overlooking the Sasso San a precious Serassi Organ [1764], carved and Giorgio, on the branch of Lake Como along gilded, a carved ciborium and a polychrome the “Sentiero del Viandante”. According to the wooden canopy altar. The bell tower, in tradition, it has been built in the 13th century, Romanesque style, can be dated around the by the will of a crusader returning from the 12th century. Holy Land. It owes its current appearance to Sanctuary of Beata Vergine del Fiume a series of restorations that took place mostly This manifestation of Marian devotion has in the 14th century. The decorative apparatus been built in the homonymous square by that covers most of the walls is particularly the will of the archpriest Giovanni Battista enchanting: in the triumphal arch and in the Sambuca. It has been founded in 1624 after presbytery floor there are numerous votive a miraculous event, and later it became the frescoes dating back to the 15th century. object of donations by the local nobility. The For opening hours visit the website www.visitmandello.it octagonal plan is dominated by a dome with lantern. In the years, the elegant arcade with The Church of San Lorenzo nine arches and the fourteen baroque chapels It stands on the homonymous square, a few of the Via Crucis have been added [they are steps from the lake and at the entrance of placed in the square in front of the building]. the ancient village. The current building, The pictorial decoration is entirely dedicated to decorated following the baroque taste, dates the exaltation of the Virgin with works by back to the 17th century. It is placed were Sant’Agostino. ➔ Next suggestion: The breaks by the lake 4 The breaks by the lake Mandello del Lario has a characteristic lake of Mandello, a war relic found in the 50s near front where the narrow alleys of the historical the port of Genoa from a local business, then centre flow. The public gardens are really bought and donated to the city. For the lovers of romantic and suggestive, they compose a sailing, Mandello hosts since 1965 an important large green area located between the ancient section of the Italian Naval League, which village and the Municipal Lido, a natural every summer offers courses for adults, teens continuation of the lakeside promenade. and children. The club, located at the south During the summer there are various types entrance of the town a few steps from the of events. In the area, equipped for the weekly sports hall, has a wide availability of parking, market and for the periodic markets, there as well as functional services for racing and is a space where some games for children’s pleasure. A little further on there is a large entertainment are installed. At the end of the port with numerous boat places. On the north “Viale dei giardini”, just after the old and noble coast there is the village ofOlcio , with its ancient fountain, beyond the river Meria, there is the burgh, the long shore and the pier loved by Municipal Lido. This area is well equipped and residents and tourists. In memory of a past has a beach, a lawn and a bar with a covered where there were small villages and estates, area where you can have lunch, dinner and Mandello is an exception compared to all Italian enjoy an happy hour. At the entrance of the municipalities because it extends on two public gardens, in the lake area, there is one shores of the lake: in fact on the west bank of of the most cherished symbols for citizens, the branch of Lecco, there is the small fraction a source of curiosity for tourists: the cannon of Moregallo, with its minute pebble beaches. ➔ Next suggestion: The “Sentiero del Viandante” 5 The “Sentiero del Viandante” Since ancient times the eastern shore of itinerary continues towards Gittana and then Lake Como has been interested by a series of towards Bellano where, after passing the paths that linked Milan to the Alpine passes. Pioverna stream and the famous Orrido, In the early decades of the 19th century, the you will find the Sanctuary of Lezzeno. In opening of a new military road to the Stelvio northern direction from Bellano, you can Pass [built between 1817 and 1834] caused reach the Castle of Dervio, then Corenno the progressive abandonment of the previous Plinio, along the Piona little lake until you system, which only in recent years has been reach, near Piantedo, almost at the entrance rediscovered, valued and named “Sentiero of the Valtellina, the Madonna di Val Pozzo. del Viandante”. The path begins just before The path [today marked by white and orange Abbadia, near the church of San Martino, and indicators] is characterized by the balance remains next to the shore of the lake until the between nature, culture and human activity. church of San Giorgio, near Mandello. Here, It is 40 km long, and the difference in height further inside, you can reach the ancient is between 400 and 1000 meters: it can be burgh of Maggiana, Rongio and Sonvico. In crossed at once, staying overnight along the Genìco the itinerary divides: you can continue way, or dividing it into different sections to towards Lierna, following the medieval route, travel separately. In this case it is important or head inland, passing by the ancient church to know that the railway line that runs close of San Pietro di Ortanella. Both routes meet and parallel to the path allows you to start at the Castle of Vezio, one of the main fortified and stop the excursion to the desired station cores of the Eastern Lario.