Stories from Lake Como
Varenna: history and charm of the village on the lake
Varenna is a compact village on the eastern shore of Lake Como. Colorful houses, steep staircases, and the Lovers' Walk tell its continuous relationship with water.
A history between lake and fortifications
The village's origins are ancient and are traced back to pre-Roman and Roman times. A tradition documented as early as the sixteenth century recounts that in 1169 Varenna welcomed the exiles from Isola Comacina, destroyed during the struggles between Como and Milan. The new district was named Insula Nova.
The village later passed under the Torriani, Visconti, and Dal Verme families. Even today, Castello di Vezio dominates the village, while Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi bear witness to the elegance achieved by the locality between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
What to see in Varenna
The historic center is explored slowly: the church of San Giorgio, the alleys that descend to the lake, and the small harbor are essential stops. In Fiumelatte, the eponymous stream flows, famous for its white color and seasonal course.
During the period of San Giovanni, the 'lumaghitt,' small lights entrusted to the lake, symbolically recall the arrival of the inhabitants of Isola Comacina.
