Varenna description and photos - Italy: Lake Como (Topic)

Varenna description and photos - Italy: Lake Como. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Varenna.

Photo and description

Varenna is a resort town on the shores of Lake Como in the province of Lecco, located 60 km north of Milan and 20 km north-west of Lecco. According to the latest census, only about a thousand people permanently live in it. The shortest river in Italy flows in Varenna, in the Fumelatte quarter - it is only 250 meters long. And its name - Fiumelatte, which means "milk river" in Italian, it got for the color of the water.

The main attraction of Varenna is the Castello di Vezio castle, built in the 11th century and redesigned several times. During the First World War, underground punishment cells were built on its territory, which were opened to the public in 1999. After passing the suspension bridge, you can get to the main tower of the castle and climb to its top, from where a wonderful view of Lake Como opens. There is a gravel path along the north side of the castle, which is buried in flowers of amazing beauty in spring. If you lean on the railing, you can see Varenna spread out below. From there, you can climb the stairs to the olive grove. Today in Castello di Vezio there is a falconry, where you can see a real costume performance. Here birds of prey are bred, teaching them how to hunt - buzzards, barn owls, Mediterranean falcons and long-eared owls.

In addition, in the vicinity of Varenna, it is worth exploring the villas Cipressi and Monastero. The latter was once a Cistercian monastery, as the name implies, and was dedicated to Mary Magdalene. Monks built it in 1208, those who fled the island of Comacina (a small island on Lake Como) after it was devastated during the war between Milan and the city of Como. In 1567, the monastery was abolished, and the building itself, along with the lands belonging to it, was bought by the Mornico family. A hundred years later, Lelio Mornico completely rebuilt the building of the monastery and turned it into a luxurious orphanage. Then, over the years, the villa changed hands until it became the property of Marco de Marca, who handed it over to the local Hydrobiological and Limnological Institute. Since 1963, Villa Monastero has been an international cultural and research center. It is surrounded by a wonderful garden with citrus trees, cypresses, pines and agaves. The alleys of the garden are decorated with statues and bas-reliefs.

Not far from Villa Monastero is Villa Cipressi, recently acquired by the local municipality. In the near future, they intend to turn it into a cultural center. Villa Cipressi, once owned by the Serpontis family, one of the oldest in Varenna, is also surrounded by a vast park with cypress groves from which it got its name.

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Topic: Varenna description and photos - Italy: Lake Como.