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Lecco Brianza Area

Lecco, a territory to be discovered

The Lecco Brianza area lies only a short distance from Milan-Bergamo Airport and a few minutes from the metropolis of Milan and is the ideal destination for spending an enjoyable time of fun and relaxation in a natural oasis. Set among nature in a flat and hilly area, it is the perfect place for hiking in nature parks among gentle rolling hills, green meadows and woods. Various wellness centres, some connected to innovative hotels, offer treatments for a rejuvenating break in total wellbeing. And that’s not all. It is also a renowned wine and food area with certified agritourism farms and an important tourist destination for exceptional cultural visits.

 
Foto: Copyright © Sisterscom.com
 
The Romanesque in Lecco Brianza area

The Basilica of San Pietro al Monte and the Oratory of San Benedetto in Civate are among the most important monuments of the area, which absolutely must be visited. These places can only be reached on foot with an hour-long walk along a mule track that starts in Civate at the Monastery of San Calocero.

In San Pietro, visitors can admire the fresco of the Apocalypse and the stucco work of the crypt and ciborium, priceless evidence of Lombard art of the XII century. The Oratory of San Benedetto, which dates back to the middle of the XI century, instead preserves a rare example of an altar frescoed by local painters (X-XII century).

 

The Basilica of San Pietro al Monte. Copyright © Sisterscom.com

The Parish Church of Santa Eufemia and the Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista in Oggiono are equally beautiful. The church, which was founded in the XI century and rebuilt in the XVII century, houses a fresco by Andrea Appiani and a polyptych of ten panels - one of the most valuable works in the Brianza area - by Marco D’Oggiono, an important painter of the Leonardo da Vinci school. The adjacent baptistery, which has an octagonal plan and is covered by a dome of tufa, preserves the original baptismal font, frescoes dating back from the XV to the XVI century, and fragments of old frescoes in its thirteenth-century presbytery.

 

Examples of industrial archaeology in Lecco Brianza area
Garlate. Copyright © Sisterscom.com

There are numerous examples of development in the area connected to the manufacture of silk, one of the primary economic factors in the Lecco area. In Garlate, the Museo della Seta Abegg (Abegg Silk Museum) preserves working artisan and industrial machines, and work tools used during the silkworm rearing, spinning and twisting stages.

The Complesso dello Zero lies in the area that extends from Ello towards Galbiate, and has a twisting mill, dam and water canals connected to other establishments, including the main “Torre” mill. These mills, reorganised in the second half of the nineteenth century, belonged to the De Vecchi family, who also owned the beautiful spinning mill of Vergano; in Ello, the Dell’Oro family exhibit their old machinery, which is still in operation. The old buildings of the mills, saw mills and spinning mills can still be seen in the Galbiate Valley. Among the silk buildings in Galbiate, the Ronchetti spinning mill still survives today in Neoclassical guise, and is partly used as a twisting mill. 

 
Several silk establishments can be seen in nearby Valmadrera, and in Parè a spinning mill and spinning machine can still be seen in the Bovara factory. The architectural development of one of the largest bourgeois workshops in Italy is found in the central part of the Gavazzi mill, together with the owner’s villa, built around 1820, known as the “Filandone”. 
 
 
The Paderno d'Adda Bridge. Copyright © Sisterscom.com
The Paderno d'Adda Bridge
In addition to the silk industry, a clear example of industrial archaeology is the Rothlisberger Bridge in Paderno d’Adda, which was built between 1887 and 1889 and is considered a masterpiece of engineering, to the extent that it has been placed on the list of greatest arch bridges in the world.
 
Leonardo Da Vinci in Lecco Brianza area
Il traghetto di Leonardo ad Imbersago. Copyright © Sisterscom.com

Leonardo da Vinci stayed in this area several times between 1483 and 1498. He saw the Brianza area, passed to observe the phenomenon of Fiumelatte, and went to Valsassina to see the mines and iron and copper works. While a guest of the Melzi family in Vaprio, he studied the navigability of the River Adda and the Lecco-Milan connection. Some of his valuable drawings of fluvial engineering works, which were then built in the eighteenth century, remain to this day.

Some of his valuable drawings of fluvial engineering works, which were then built in the eighteenth century, remain to this day. His stay in the Brianza area was a motive of inspiration for the great genius, as can be deduced from the striking wild scenery depicted in the background of his paintings: “Mona Lisa”, “The Virgin and Child with St. Anne” and “The Virgin of the Rocks”. 
 
Montevecchia
Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine del Carmelo. Copyright © Sisterscom.com
Montevecchia is nestled in the green countryside of south-east Brianza, on a verdant hill. This small town of little more than two thousand inhabitants lies in the Regional Park of Montevecchia and the Curone Valley. It is in the ideal position for a lookout post and has been used since Roman times for this purpose; today it offers a splendid view. The prominent morainic hill recalls a beautiful Tuscan landscape.

Montevecchia is reached along a road that winds between hills, vineyards, farmsteads and stately homes. The Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine del Carmelo sits at its summit. This Baroque-style sanctuary is a symbol of the Marian faith in the Brianza area and houses important frescoes. It is reached by climbing a flight of some 181 steps, which is crossed by a path that leads to the seventeenth-century aedicule of the Via Crucis.

The Parish Church of S. Giovanni Battista MartireOratory of S. BernardoOratory of S. Mauro-Passone and the Oratory of S. Giuseppe-Ostizza are also well worth a visit.
 
Salumi and cheeses. Copyright © Sisterscom.com
Tipical dishes in Lecco Brianza area
The autumn with the grape harvest is the ideal period to enjoy the beauty of the land and taste delicious dishes in the local trattorias and agritourism farms, where cured meats, “robiolini” (soft) cheeses and excellent local wines are served; but also in spring and summer, among lush green nature, hiking or mountain biking along the numerous paths and admiring the exceptional views.
 
Text by Lisa Maria River
Avion Tourism Magazine
Photos: Sisterscom, Shutterstock
Copyright © Sisterscom.com
Video: www.italia.it
 
 
 
Tourism Board
www.lakecomo.is

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Where to sleep in Lecco
Lecco. Foto: Copyright © Sisterscom.com
 
Brianza Lecchese is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.
To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

 

STARS IN LECCO
Hotels for stars, differentiated by type of services:
DISTRICTS IN LECCO
Hotels in the districts
 
 
DISTRICTS IN LECCO
Hotels in the districts
 
AIRPORTS IN LOMBARDY
Hotel near the airports of Lombardy
 
 
where to go in lecco brianza area
Monuments in Lecco Brianza Area
Foto: Copyright © Sisterscom.com 
BASILICA OF SAN PIETRO AL MONTE
AND ORATORY OF SAN BENEDETTO
Info: Parrocchia/Parish
Guided tours: Associazione Amici di San Pietro
Accessible only on foot along a path (300 metres elevation gain) with an hour-long walk.
www.amicidisanpietro.it
CHURCH OF SANT’EUFEMIA
AND BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI
Info: Associazione Archeologica Oggiono 
Amministrazione Comunale
Civic Library.
Video: theAiroldMan94
 
Museums in Lecco Brianza area
MUSEUM OF SILK
Monti di Abadia Lariana 
The Museo della Seta Monti is located on the nearby eastern shore of Lake Como. Around 1818 Pietro Monti transformed an ancient panilan follo with an adjoining irrigation channel and wheel, into a silk spinning mill. In 1869 he enlarged the building and added a building for spinning cocoons and after a long period of deterioration in 1978 the buildings were bought by the Municipality. From 1981 began the recovery of the spinning machine and the restoration of the machines, including a large circular twisting machine of 1818 put back into operation.
CESARE CANTU’
BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM
Brivio (Lc)
The museum displays works and mementos of the writer and historian.
Via Cesare Cantù. Comune di Brivio
Info: Cesare Cantù Study Centre
www.cesarecantu.it 
LEONARDO DA VINCI ADDA ECOMUSEUM
River Adda
The Leonardo da Vinci Adda Ecomuseum reveals the signs of a centuries-old collaboration between the plentiful water and the industrious population; an open-air museum in which to discover the historic, artistic, archaeological and wildlife landmarks of the area. It consists of 14 stages along the River Adda, which include 47 places of considerable social and cultural interest. Since 2008, the North Adda Regional Park has been offering cultural and tourist trips along the River Adda in ecologically friendly boats, in the period from April until September.
addadileonardo.com
 
The villas in Brianza
Foto: Copyright © Sisterscom.com 
VILLA GREPPI
Monticello (Lc)
Via Monte Grappa, 21.
This majestic Neoclassical building was formerly owned by the Noble Casati family, whose last descendent, the Marquis Francesco Casati, stayed here during the winter months until his death in 1837. It then became the property of the Greppi family, the Ponti family and finally public property. The name of the architect is unknown, and it is presumed to have been built at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The residence has a monumental, austere entrance consisting of three Neoclassical arches, which leads to a tree-lined avenue.
The interior courtyard of honour is bound on the side opposite the entrance by the stately home. The interior displays rich, stylish decorations of great refinement.
Open only with prior booking to groups and school children, or in the case of extraordinary events.
www.villagreppi.it
Foto: Copyright © Sisterscom.com 
VILLA BELGIOIOSO
Merate (Lc)
This is one of the most remarkable examples of villas built by Milanese society in the eighteenth century. The villa’s appearance today is the result of an uninterrupted series of works made to the first group of sixteenthcentury houses. Its current aspect dates back to the eighteenth century when the new entrance, avenue of cypress trees and Italianate garden - later replaced by an English, romanticinspired garden - were built. The exterior appearance of the façade is striking due to the different window frames, which are sombre,
almost Neoclassical on the ground floor, in contrast to the linear form, similar to simple cornices, on the upper floors.
 
 
 
VILLA SOMMI PICENARDI
Olgiate Molgora (Lc)
Via Castello, 2.
This is the most prestigious residence of the Brianza area, whose initial structure was built in the Middle Ages. After being reconstructed several times, it was restored in the XVII century. In 1702 the small church was built. The villa is bordered by a sumptuous Italianate garden (known as the “secret garden” because it cannot be seen from the main gate); the long access road is lined with poplar trees, while the entrance is marked by two columns. It has beds of box hedges pruned to form ball shapes and pools with water features; a nymphaeum in a small grotto is located beneath one of the stairways. Amphorae and Baroque statues, representing fauns and other mythological figures, are dotted here and there. The romantic garden of exquisite plants in the front of the house was made at the end of the nineteenth century. An oriental plane tree of approximately 190 years old is considered a “living monument”. The Sommi Picenardi family purchased the villa in 1920. The gardens can be visited with prior booking.
www.villasommipicenardi.it

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