Things to Do and See in Lecco

Lecco, the capital of the province of the same name, grew rapidly beginning in the 18th century with the Industrial Revolution, becoming one of Italy’s most important industrial centers. The city is closely linked to sites associated with Manzoni, including Villa Manzoni—the writer’s summer residence and now a city museum— the Pescarenico district, home to the convent where the character Fra Cristoforo lived; the Olate and Acquate neighborhoods, featuring the presumed home of Lucia, the church of Don Abbondio, and Don Rodrigo’s mansion. Not far from the city center lies the Chiuso neighborhood, where you can visit the Rocca dell’Innominato. Along Lake Como, there are charming towns such as Varenna, situated on a promontory offering a superb view at the base of Mount San Defendente, where you can admire Villa Monastero, built on the site of an ancient monastery; Vezio, a small medieval town with its castle; and Dervio, home to the Church of Saints Quirico and Giulitta, which stands in the oldest part of the town. There are numerous abbeys scattered throughout the area, including the Abbadia Lariana, located in the town of the same name, home to the Silk Museum, which tells the story of the centuries-old Larian tradition of silk weaving and processing; the Abbey of Piona in Colico, an architectural gem and an oasis of peace and spirituality situated on a promontory overlooking the lake; while, among places of worship, the Monastery of Santa Maria del Lavello in Calolziocorte deserves a mention—a religious complex that still features the convent, the cloisters, and the church dating back to the 1500s.