Cernobbio

Built for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio in the 16th century, Villa d'Este is one of the oldest historical villas on Lake Como. Other noteworthy buildings include Villa Pizzo dei Mugiasca, designed by Simone Cantoni (1790); Villa Erba (1894-98), a specimen of eclectic architecture, at one time the home of film director Luchino Visconti; Villa Bernasconi, one of the earliest Liberty villas, designed by Alfredo Campanini.
The church on the lake shore is St Vincenzo (17th century carved wood works, 19th century façade). Another specimen of eclectic architecture is the Church of the Redentore (1924), close to Casa Cattaneo (1938-39), a Rationalist masterpiece designed by Cesare Cattaneo, Via Regina 41 (for further information call on 031.510173). Other churches include the small one dedicated to The Virgin of the Rocks (housing 17th century works), the Church of St Stefano in Piazza, St Nicola in Casnedo and St Michele in Rovenna (17th century stuccoes by G.B. Barberini).

Maslianico

Once strewn with water and paper mills, the valley unfolds along the Breggia River. Only one abandoned water-mill still stands.

Moltrasio

Owing to its beauty, Moltrasio has long been an elegant holiday resort. In the Villa Lucini Passalacqua chapel one finds Carolingian bas-reliefs from the St Abbondio church in Como. The limestone quarries were used from the time of the Romans up to the 20th century. Worth mentioning are the Romanesque church of Sant'Agata (medioeval frescoes) and the parish church of St Martino with a polyptych by Ludovico De Donati (1507) and frescoes by G. Paolo Recchi (1647).

Val d'Intelvi

The Val d'Intelvi, between Lake Como and Lake Lugano, is an oasis of great naturalistic, archeological and artistic interest. Scenic footpaths unfold along its slopes and ridges; speleologists explore its underground Karst caves; archeologists follow the traces of the hunters and shepherds who roamed the area already six centuries B.C. Home to artists who worked both in Italy and Central Europe, the Val d'Intelvi boasts stucco works and frescoes in its churches and in the home villages of the artists themselves (Laino, Scaria, Lanza, Ramponio, ...), so one may well say this is a 'showcase' of European art, especially of 17th and 18th century art. As a matter of fact, the valley gave birth to the painters and stucco workers of the Carloni family, the Spazzis (architects), painter Giulio Quaglio, stucco artist G.B. Barberini, sculptor Ercole Ferrata and many others whose works are to be found in Venice and in Rome, in Vienna as in Prague, Salzburg or St. Petersburg, etc.

Sala Comacina

The boat for Villa Balbianello departs from Sala Comacina (tel. 034.456110; 338.4599492).

Ossuccio

Ruins of ancient Romanesque churches and Rationalist buildings by Pietro Lingeri are to be found on the island. The village boasts the Romanesque churches of Santa Maria Maddalena in Ospedaletto, St Giacomo, Sant'Eufemia, and the Sacro Monte della Madonna del Soccorso dedicated to the Mystery of the Rosaries as well as fourteen chapels with statues and frescoes.

Lenno

Lakefront on the enchanting Gulf of Venus; on the headland, Villa Balbianello and its gardens. The church of St Stefano (Romanesque crypt and early Christian epigraphs), a Romanesque Baptistry; the Romanesque church of St Andrea and the formerly Cistercian Acquafredda Abbey (12th century).

Tremezzo e Griante

Tremezzo is rightly famous for its setting, art and nature, Cadenabbia for Villa Carlotta (tel. 0344-40405; 0344-41011) with its historical gardens and Neo-classical and Romantic works of art, above all the famed Love and Psyche by Canova and for a Neo-Gothic Anglican church. Between Tremezzo and Mezzegra one comes across Villa Amila (1927), a specimen of Rationalist architecture by Pietro Lingeri.

Menaggio

Worth seeing are the sculpture called The Weaver by Francesco Somaini (1990); the parish church of St Stefano (17th century altars); Villa Mylius (garden and 19th century art collection) the seat of cultural gatherings for relations between Italy and Germany; the church in Loveno.

Valsolda

Overlooking Lake Lugano and set as it is between the mountains and the lake itself, the Valsolda boasts an enchanting landscape, celebrated by Antonio Fogazzaro in his 19th century novels Malombra and Piccolo Mondo Antico.
How pleasant it is when walking the narrow streets of hamlets such as Albogasio, Puria, Castello, Loggio and St Mamete to come across sculpted portals, sacred paintings on house-fronts, scenic views. Among the works of art mention should be made of the frescoes by Paolo Pagani in the church of St Martino in Castello (1697); Isidoro Bianchi's 17th century works in the Shrine of the Madonna della Caravina; the 18th century paintings by Carlo Innocenzo Carloni in the Cima di Porlezza parish church.

Porlezza e la Val Cavargna

The village possibly had Roman origins as a port on Lake Lugano. The surroundings, above all the Piano Lake, are extremely interesting as naturalistic biotopes. The works of art to be found in the area range from Romanesque art (the church of St Maurizio, unearthed from a landslide from Mount Galbiga) to 18th century art (paintings in St Vittore and Santa Marta). Etnographic museums housing mementoes from the peasant civilization, iron mining and dairy activities - all typical of the area - have been opened in Carlazzo and Cavargna.

Gravedona

Apart from admiring the lanscape and the lake, in Gravedona and its environs it is possible to visit a number of works of art. Romanesque architecture is represented by the ancient baptistry of Santa Maria del Tiglio. Next to it, one finds the church of St Vincenzo, with its Romanesque external walls and crypt. Inside the church one finds 17th and 18th century paintings.
The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, adjoining an Augustinian convent founded in 1468, is an unusual specimen of 15th century architecture and houses beautiful 16th century cycles of frescoes.
In the church dedicated to St Gusmeo and St Matteo it is possible to admire frescoes by Gian Mauro della Rovere, known as Il Fiammenghino (17th century), paintings by whom are also to be found in the St Eusebio church in Peglio, above Gravedona. Other interesting 16th century paintings may be viewed in Naro (church of Santa Croce), in Livo (St Giacomo) and in Dosso del Liro (St Pietro in Costa), which can be reached driving through green chestnus woods and vineyards.

Dongo e la Valle dell'Albano

Dongo is an ancient village on the mouth of the Albano, a stream which flows through a picturesque valley, through which the ancient route followed by cattle traders and pilgrims from the Bellinzona valleys (Switzerland) also unfolded. It was in Dongo that Benito Mussolini was arrested in 1945 while, disguised as a German soldier in a military convoy, he was fleeing to Germany. The Fascist Party officials accompanying him were executed on the pier closing off the harbour the square looks onto.
Interesting works of art are to be found in the St Stefano church (originally Romanesque, it was modernised in the 18th century) and in the Shrine of the Madonna delle Lacrime, adjoining the Franciscan convent which houses an ancient library.
When moving up the Albano valley one finds 17th and 18th century paintings in the Stazzona church and 16th century ones in Germasino and in Garzeno.
In Pianello there is a Museum called La Raccolta della Barca Lariana, where one may admire models of boats used on Lake Como in the course of time.

Domaso, Gera e Sorico

Domaso is fully equipped for tourism and has several camping-sites and sports facilities. It boasts a historical centre, stately homes, sacred and profane frescoes, the church of St Bartolomeo with its 17th and 18th century paintings and S. Salvatore in the the hamlet of Vercana.
Gera Lario is worth visiting for its historical centre and the church of St Vincenzo. Past Sorico (where one should visit the church of St Stefano), one finds the Pian di Spagna (bird-watching), a palin between the mouths of the Adda and the Mera, close to the Mezzola Lake; from Dascio one can reach the Romanesque church of S. Fedelino by boat.

Erba

The ancient church of Sant' Eufemia; Villa Amalia and its park (Neo-Classical and Neo-Gothic; the War Memorial (1928-1932) by architect Giuseppe Terragni; the Pomerio and Casiglio castles; the Casiglio church with the Gothic tomb created by the Maestri Campionesi for Beltramino Pallavicino (Como bishop in 1339-1340).

La Valassina e il Triangolo Lariano

In Lasnigo one should visit the church of St Alessandro; on the Ghisallo Pass the Shrine to the Madonna del Ghisallo dedicatd to cycling.

Cantù

Cantù is famous as the capital of furniture and furniture design, but is also rich in works of art. Among the places worth a visit are the Romanesque basilica of St Vincenzo with its adjoining Baptistry. 17th century art is represented by the Santa Maria church with its central plan; by the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (frescoes by G. Mauro della Rovere known as Il Fiammenghino); by the former church of St Ambrogio, with an important fresco by the Recchi brothers, painters from Como).
In Carimate, not far from Cantù, one finds elegant villas by famous 20th century architects. In Arosio there is an observatory and an ornithological museum.

Inverigo

In Inverigo there are important specimens of residential architecture in the Baroque and Neo-Classical styles (Villa Crivelli, "La Rotonda" by Cagnola, Villa Perego). Also the Shrine of the Madonna della Noce, with paintings by Il Morazzone (17th century) is worth a visit.

Fino Mornasco e la Bassa Comasca

Not far from Fino Mornasco it is possible to find interesting works of art, such as Simone Cantoni's Neo-Classical works (in Fino Mornasco, Minoprio and Lomazzo). The area also boasts a couple of small yet very interesting museums (The Rocking Horse Museum and The Bee Museum) and an experimental centre for the growing of silk-worms.

Uggiate Trevano

Uggiate Trevano lies on a plain among the hills surrounding the Val Faloppia, a morainic amphitheatre formed by the glaciers of the fourth glaciation, along with the villages of Ronago, Faloppio and Drezzo. To the north there is the border with the Swiss Mendrisiotto region, which offers a number of pleasant scenic views. Among the works of art, mention should be made of the Uggiate church of St Pietro and St Paolo, decorated in 1733 with frescoes by Val d'Intelvi artist Carlo Innocenzo Carloni. It also houses two paintings by Paolo Pagani (dating back to 1713 and 1714), depicting two miracles performed by St Anthony from Padua. In the Val Faloppia (also known as the Val Mulini) one finds ancient mills and can visit (booking is compulsory) a 19th century water-powered sawing mill.

Albiolo e la Valmorea

Albiolo and the Valmorea lie close to the western boundary between the Provinces of Como and Varese, among the hills through which the valley formed by the Lanza stream runs. Nature trails lead from Cagno to Rodero, as far as the hill going by the name of St Matteo, from which one can enjoy the view and see what remains of an ancient Roman tower. The church of St Martino (also known as Sant'Anna) in Albiolo, a specimen of minor Romanesque architecture, housing 15th and 16th century frescoes, is also well worth a visit.

Appiano gentile e la Bassa Comasca

Appiano Gentile offers nature trails and some interesting monuments, such as the St Stefano parish church looking onto the village square or the small Romanesque Church of St Bartolomeo al Bosco in a clearing in the Regional Pineta Park.