The green woods that cover the two hills emerge from the cerulean lake waters.

Ridges of Mount San Primo: view of Lavedo (Villa Balbianello) and Comacina island. 

The Zoca de l’oli (basin of oil) and the gulf of Diana.

Lavedo: detail of the Balbianello and
Villa Cassinella-Mantegazza.

Two bucolic views taken from the meadows of Lavedo. Left: view in direction of mount Nuvolone. Right: mount Galbiga.

View from mount Crocione.

The outline of the island rises from the alp meadows.

Comacina Island: view over punta Balbianello.

The church of S.Giovanni is the symbol of Medieval Lario. It evokes the wars fought by the commune of Como (allied with Frederick Barbarossa) against the supremacy of the commune of Milan who was backed by the fortified stronghold of the island (cfr: La Sagra di S.Giovanni). It was the only building spared after destruction by the Como army in 1169 and preserves ancient remains of Roman walls and part of a 5th-century baptistery.

Detail of S.Giovanni and Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Rescue).

The archaeological remains
at the foot of the church.

The remains of the basilica of S.Eufemia (11th century). All these relics have been valorised thanks to restoration works carried out with European funds. The bell tower of Ossuccio, the sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso and the historical centres of the hill towns of Tremezzo are also part of this restoration project.

In 1948, after eight centuries of neglect and despite the legend of an ancient curse, the island enjoyed a renaissance thanks to the construction of a typical restaurant. The inn was founded by Lino Nessi (nicknamed Cotoletta), keeping over the years an exquisite culinary tradition. The inn has been visited by many celebrities: Alfred Hitchcock, Gregory Peck,
Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Ursula Andress, Madonna, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and many others.

Chicco, the cat of the island (photo taken in 1989)...