Welcome to Colico, the last town on the eastern coast of Lake Como, located north of Bellano and east of Sorico in an important tourist spot, for whoever wants to relax along the shores or walk in the mountains, or also for stop-over’s, who are directed to Chiavenna or the renowed alpine areas like Bormio or Saint Moritz.
Colico is surrounded by Monte Legnone, and it expands on two hills, called “colli di Montecchio” and borders on the biggest nature reserve of Lombardy: the Pian di Spagna.
Walk along the hills, in the old part, and on its lakefront, then go and visit the fortresses “Del Montecchio” and “Il Fuentes”. Then move down south, where you can find a peaceful little peninsula called Olgiasca. Here you can find some important religious buildings, as well as the important Villa Malpensata, dated back to 8th century. If you go even more south, just above Dervio, you can see the magnificent fortress: il Castello di Corenno Plinio.
In Colico it is possible to do many water sports, among all, sailing and windsurf, while you can relax on the beach on the quiet Piona’s Bay. The nearby Monte Legnone, with its 2609m of altitude will satisfy the excursionists with some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Orobic Alpes.
http://www.lagodicomo.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/colico-porticciolo.jpg
Colico – What to see
The only fortress belonging to the First World War that is still intact is Montecchio Fortress. It was designed by Enrico Rocchi and built between 1911 and 1914 on two levels in cement and stone, composed by a central body and a wing, where the soldiers used to stay, connected by a tunnel dug into the rocks.
The four cannons are the biggest in Italy and are the only original elements still present today and are still working. Inside there is also a little war-museum.
The ruins of Forte Fuentes, dated back to the 17th century, are the only elements of the fortress, still existing today and are situated among the Colle del Montecchio’s vegetation. Although it still arouses interest for the remains of the “Tenaglia” and for the chapel.
The most appealing area is the peninsula of Olgiasca: here you can see Villa Malpensata and the beautiful Abbey of Piona.
Villa Malpensata dated back to the 9th century, is situated on the banks of the lake and is composed by an open gallery and a park,; today it is the seat of the Community “il Gabbiano”.
The Abbazia of Piona, also known as the complex of the “Priorato di Piona”, is Colico’s biggest attraction. It is situated on a rocky point of the promontory that leads you down to the beautiful pool and is formed by the Church of San Nicola, built on top of the ruins of an oratory built in the 7th century, a big cloister, built between 1252 and 1257, and a beautiful park surrounded by fruit trees. Today the abbey belongs to the Cisternensi friars, that have reintroduced the antique art of distilling herbs.
Moving towards Dervio-Bellano, you arrive at the little village of Corenno Plinio, where you can visit a well kept castle, built in 1300 from the Andreani family. Next to the fortress you can visit a church containing 3rd century frescoes and gothic tombs belonging to the family.
http://www.lagodicomo.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/giardini-colico.jpg
Colico – Cuisine and Restaurants
Here listed are some good restaurants in Colico and nearby:
El Mercante
Via Logasc n°3 int.4 – 23823 Colico (LC)
Tel. +39 0341 930257
Homemade cooking in the beautiful surroundings of the small lake in Piona . It offers appetizers with cheese and pickled vegetables homemade.
Trattoria Bel-Sit
Via Fumiarga, strada per Posallo – 23823 Colico (LC)
Cell. +39 345.9662342
www.trattoriabel-sit.it
Closed on Wednesdays.
Ristorante Sci d’Oro
Via San fedele, 29 – 23823 Colico (LC)
Tel. +39 0341 940594
Agriturismo Forte di Fuentes
Via Forte di Fuentes, 24 – 23823 Colico (LC) Tel. +39 339 1654890
www.compendiodifuentes.com
It is located within an estate of about 34 hectares on the edge of the Natural Reserve of Pian di Spagna. Its main mission is the enhancement and the promotion of activities that focus on the territory and its resources and tourists activities related to food.
Vecchia Osteria Robustello
Via Fontanedo, S/N, loc. Robustello – 23823 Colico (LC) Tel. 389 0721013 oppure 339.3198994 www.robustello.com
A family run place with a relaxed atmosphere, you can taste the typical cuisine of the Valtellina Region.
Closed on Mondays.
Perbacco
Via Giuseppe Mazzini, 8- 23823 Colico (LC) Tel. +39 0341 930459
www.ristopizzaperbacco.com
Restaurant and Pizza
La Vecchia Osteria
Via Giuseppe Mazzini, 18 – 23283 Colico (LC)
Tel. +39 0341 941739
Azienda Agricola El Logasc
Via Logasc, 5 – 23283 Colico (LC)
Overlooking the beach of the lake in Piona, in front of the homonymous promontory abbey, it proposes local Lario food of the upper lake and Valtellina.
Colico – How to get there
By air
From Malpensa and Linate Milanese air terminals, you should make your way to the centre of Milan and then take the train in the direction Sondrio-Tirano.
From Orio Al Serio airport it’s best to catch a train directly from Bergamo Station in direction Lecco.
By train
Colico is well connected to Milan and you can reach it easily within just and hour and a half by local trains that leave from the centre of Milan. From Bergamo, instead you have to go to Lecco and then change train.
By car
Colico is 100km away from Milan, but it is connected very well by the SS36 Lecco-Sondrio, you just have to take the exit when you get to the signs for Colico.
Map