Nesso | Unforgettable Views on Lake Como & Deep Leonardo da Vinci Inspiration


Nesso, charming town of Lario situated on the spectacular S83 State Road leading to the incomparable Bellagio, in the small, suggestive Val Nosè also known as Valle Nosee, a place which inspired and attracted the attention of illustrious names of history as Leonardo da Vinci who had fruitful inspirations from this place but also Virgil, Stendhal, Wagner,  Liszt, Manzoni, Dumas, Lord Byron, Goethe, eminent film directors as Alfred Hitchcock as well as passionate photographers and painters who still love to reach this town of the to immortalize the extraordinary Orrido di Nesso, one of the magical, natural beauties of Lake Como.

The approach itinerary to reach Nesso consists of crossing Como for a short stretch  and then starting the ascent towards Brunate famous for its "Balcony on the Alps", an extraordinary belvedere that offers memorable panoramic views of the Alpine chain continuing through picturesque villages such as Blevio and Torno where the lake forms a beautiful promontory in front of the fascinating Cernobbio offering an unforgettable glimpse of its wonderful gulf and the iconic Villa d'Este then continuing via Faggeto Lario and Pognana Lario where Lake Como becomes narrower due to a spectacular cove that develops as if by magic up to the beautiful Lezzeno.

Once you reached Nesso, the sensation will be immediately sublime discovering fairytale landscapes with unforgettable views of the Larian lake basin and impervious mountains that dominate the town with woods that cover most of the municipal territories and above all an atmosphere that immediately transmits to each visitor something simply magical.

Historically, the first settlements in the area are related to Celtic populations, the Insubres and Cauni and the name of this municipality was originally "Ness" curiously linked to the famous Scottish Lake, named in honor of the God of Waters with this name venerated by those pagan populations. 

All that happened before the Roman colonization that preceded centuries lived under different occupants such as Lombards, Franks, Milanese, Aragonese, French, Austrians and then entered the Kingdom of Italy with the House of Savoy in the second half of the nineteenth century.

The town is mainly developed around its town hall and you can start the visit with the Chiesa di San Pietro e Paolo,a church dating back to the 11th century and consecrated by Pope Urban II.  

That religious building was restored on some occasions largely changing its original typically Romanesque architectural appearance with a new façade with a baroque air and two neoclassical columns on its sides and you can admire two statues depicting the evangelists Peter and Paul placed in the upper part of the large pediment.

Visiting the interior from the wide nave that opens towards the apse with a beautiful baroque altar, you will appreciate the presence of various frescoes and stuccoes dating back to  the nineteenth century and the sepulchrary monument with the relics of the Bishop of Como Rainaldo who lived many years in Nesso in the eleventh century.

Afterwards you wull be in front of the emblematic local symbol, the extraordinary Orrido di Nesso, a masterpiece of nature represented by an amazing waterfall generated at the confluence of the two streams called Tuf and Nosè which with their course eroding the rocky walls formed an impressive gorge above the town, undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed attractions of the entire Lario.

You can walk towards one of the most spectacular points to admire this wonder, namely Piazza Castello from where you will enjoy an unparalleled frontal view of this sort of natural miracle. 

The Orrido di Nesso was admired and studied by the great Leonardo da Vinci who during his many years of stay in Milan decided to visit this place many times, mentioning it in some of his writings and mentioned in the famous Codex Atlanticus where the Tuscan genius wrote: "Nesso is where a river descends with all its impetus forming a large slit in the Mountain."

Other artists in different eras were attracted by this wonder as in the case of the writer Giambattista Bazzoni  from Novara who mentioned the ravine in some of his literary works such as La guerra di Musso and Falco della Rupe dating back to the 19th century which then fascinated various readers who became visitors to this town in the Como area.  

Alfred Hitchcock, a well-known British filmmaker, even chose the Orrido as protagonist in some scenes of the film The Pleasure Garden, a film based on a novel written by Oliver Sandys.

Subsequently, walking 340 steps of a staircase you will reach another local highlight is the Ponte della Civera also called Ponte Romano located above the Antica Strada Regia, built to connect Riva del Castello corresponding to one of the sides of the old fortress to the rest of the Nosee Valleyand once you arrive near this historic monument you will enjoy another extraordinary view of the Orrido from a different perspective.

Descending towards the lake entering the beautiful hamlet of Careno where you can visit the splendid 13th century Chiesa di San Martino, a masterpiece of Romanesque art that has a magnificent loggia and an imposing bell tower and inside you will admire beautiful frescoes of the Lombard school among which the Annunciation and the Crucifixion of Christ stand out.

Afterwards walking along Via del Pero you will reach the Church of the Blessed Virgin of the Assumption dating back to the seventeenth century, a Baroque building with a façade consisting of two blocks and a sober bell tower next to it. Inside you can appreciate valuable frescoes among which the one of the Assumption of the Virgin stands out next to refined seventeenth-century stuccoes.

On a plateau overlooking Careno, worthy of note is the presence of Grotta Masera, a wonder of nature that since the beginning of the 20th century has become a favorite destination for many speleologists, even from abroad, eager to discover an incredible labyrinth full of meanders, underground tunnels, natural tunnels, small waterfalls and lakes inside this impressive cave.

Time for your lunch, remaining in the traditional local cuisine I suggest starting with an appetizer based on Lavarello in Carpione, Chubby Pate, Rye Bread Croutons and Smoked Bacon, among the first courses choose between Risotto with Perch or Gnocchi with Taleggio while among the second courses Misultitt with Slice of Polenta Taragna or Baked Pork Shank with Grilled Seasonal Vegetables.

After lunch I suggest you to reach one of the hamlets of Nesso called Vico where you will have the opportunity to admire another small jewel of the Lombard Romanesque that is the Chiesa di Santa Maria a Vico, religious a building with refined lines divided into three bodies including the quadrangular tower and inside remarkable are some Renaissance frescoes and Romanesque vaults near the apse.

Visiting Nesso means admiring the splendid landscapes of Lake Como, unique and always ready to bewitch the visitor, and that natural wonder called "Orrido di Nesso" which was admired by illustrious figures of history including the great Leonardo da Vinci.

Link : https://comune.nesso.co.it/servizi-categoria/turismo/ - https://lakecomotravel.com/nesso/

Where to Stay | Recommended Accommodation

Il Punto Rosso

Gli Orti della Civera

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