Pianello del Lario, a beautiful town located in the Alto Lario not far from the charming Dongo on the north-western shore of Lake Como in front of the territories occupied by Colico where the lake basin shows a wide curve and the Alps are close as well as the Swiss border.
Ancient Celtic and Roman settlement, living in parallel the history of the entire province with different occupants and governors in the Middle Ages, often sharing their destiny and chronological vicissitudes with the nearby Dongo.
In this town, as in every corner of the Alto Lario, the mountains majestically shade the lake and the colors of the scene are very different from the one visible in the southern and central locations of the basin, the Alpine proximity is noticeable, although thanks to the mild micro-climate of this basin the presence of typically Mediterranean vegetation at low altitudes persists.
I suggest starting the visit from Calozzo, the largest hamlet of the municipality where the Town Hall and the splendid Church of San Martino stand with a rather curious history in medieval times.
This religious building, erected in the 12th century , was originally a small chapel at a time when Pianello del Lario, in a territorial subdivision, depended on the nearby Dongo, assigned to it by the Parish of Como as a sort of appendix, or peripheral district, with the locals who always opposed it, desiring autonomy, although it was necessary to wait until 1472.
Raised on an irregular rectangular plan, the church has many architectural canons of the typical Lombard school, completely modified in 1534, the date that appears on the portal, it was donated by the Bishop of Como to the Order of the Monks of St. Christopher and since then there have been progressively other embellishments.
In the 18th century there was a splendid development of a beautiful portico, a splendid portal which is undoubtedly one of the main highlights placed under a small fresco depicting a scene from the life of St. Martin. The front façade is sober although it shows beautiful, marked lines surmounted by a metal cross.
Behind the main body of the ecclesiastical complex there is a beautiful 15th century bell tower erected on a quadrangular plan crowned at its top by a long spire.
Inside you can admire remarkable frescoes by the great Isidoro Bianchi known as Isidoro da Campione, masterpieces depicting different scenes from the Bible such as the sacrifice of Isaac, Kings Salomon and David, St. John the Baptist with another representation of St. Martin on horseback.
Also of interest is a work depicting a Virgin with Child and Saints and another with St. Martin as the protagonist who appears in a wonderful Renaissance stained glass window, the paintings and magnificent frescoes of the altar with scenes depicting the life of the Patron Saint by the Masters Intelvesi, canvases with Saints Martin and Anthony of Padua works by the artist Cremasco Botticchio and works by Gian Battista Annoni.
You will appreciate the refined chapels with sculptures of the Virgin Mary and paintings of the 17th century, the vault of the nave with some frescoes by the master Luigi Tagliaferri dating back to the nineteenth century, a splendid gilded silver crucifix dated 1489 made by Francesco Ser Gregori and a beautiful organ built at the end of the 18th century by the prestigious Serassi family of organists.
On the left side of the church stands an 18th century oratory and behind the main body of the ecclesiastical complex there is a beautiful 15th century bell tower erected on a quadrangular plan crowned by a long spire and boasting a concert of bells from 1903.
After admiring this magnificent religious complex, the visit continues with the Museum of the Lariana Boat , an exhibition dedicated to the history of the most representative boats of Lake Como, inaugurated in 1982, created by an Association called "La Raccolta della Barca Lariana " formed by a group of friends who in 1978 began to restore by saving various old boats, receiving several donations for their activityIt is a safeguard of something deeply linked to the local heritage.
In 14 rooms we will be able to admire about 160 types of boats dedicated to fishing, trade, transport but also catamarans, propeller boats such as Quatrass, Balilla alongside other models related to the nautical world in general, including a Venetian gondola and a Cisco, a British sailboat of the twentieth century.
A boat on display and considered a symbol of the Lario is the legendary "Lucia", an evocative boat with an arched roof that covers the hull often mentioned in the famous literary work The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, taking its name from Lucia Mondella, the young protagonist with Renzo Tramaglino, boyfriend and future husband.
Time for lunch of the day, I suggest as traditional first courses a choice of Risotto with Perch or Rigatoni with Porcini Mushrooms, second courses to choose between Fried Lake Fish with Mixed Salad or Roast Veal with Stewed Spinach.
After lunch I recommend a relaxing walk on the small but very romantic lakefront with its marina, admiring the breathtaking views from coast to coast in this northern point of the lake where everything appears magical.
Link : https://www.comune.pianellodellario.co.it/hh/index.php
https://www.museobarcalariana.it/
Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation
Agriturismo Treterre
Hotel Resort Le Vele
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