On Lake Como there’s a spiritual oasis where the rustle of the wind invites you to rest and relax; a tranquil place with extensive gardens, perfectly cultivated by the monks who live there.

At the entrance of this timeless paradise, you’ll see a sign saying: “Silentium”. Silence. Meaning that all you have to do here is listening to silence, and learning from it. From a religious perspective, the monks invite the visitors to be quiet in order to better communicate with God.

But let’s get to the point: what’s this charming place?

We’re talking about Piona Abbey in Colico, north-eastern shore of Lake Como: if you’re that kind of person who gets crazy for religious architecture, especially for the romanesque one, well, you can’t really miss this gem!

Technically, Piona is a small peninsula at the foot of Monte Legnone and Legnoncino: in this special corner of the lake, the water forms an inlet between Colico and Olgiasca, creating what is called Lake Piona, a sort of “lake in the lake”.

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Here, on the summit of the peninsula, stands the 12th-century Piona Abbey, a spectacular example of Lombard Romanesque building with square stones at sight, where the Cistercian monks of the Priory of Piona still live. The Abbey has been built by the Cluniac monks: consecrated in 1138 and dedicated to the Virgin, the first mention of the Cluniac monastery dates back to 1169 with the title of San Nicolò.

There would be so much to say about the stunning architecture of Piona Abbey, but in this article we’ll just explore 6 of the most interesting and cool fun facts about the background of this special place… Ready?

#1 The cloister and its “perfect asymmetry”

The cloister, Piona Abbey. Photo by Paolo Bosca

The quadrangular cloister (1252-57), with its style that ranges from Romanesque to Gothic, is somehow the main hub of the abbey, and its most intriguing area. If you look carefully at its capitals, you will see the daily life (together with plants and animals) and the medieval religiosity masterfully depicted.

The cloister capitals. Photo by Kristobalite via Flickr

But let’s go to the most interesting fact about the architecture of the cloister. Its quadrangular structure evokes the symbolic power of the number four:

the four elements of the universe
the four cardinal points
the contempt of yourself, the contempt of the world, the love towards neighbor, the God’s love.

The cloister. Photo by Krostobalite via Flickr

The thing is that the structure is totally asymmetrical: it’s very difficult to know it if no one tells you! Each side of the perimeter has a different number of pillars, precisely 8, 10, 11, 12. Each number represents a christian symbology: 8 is baptism, 10 refers to Ten Commandments, 11 stands for sin, 12 represents the Israeli clans.

All these themes are reflected in what remains of some delightful frescoes on the walls of the ‘galleries’.

In the middle of the cloister, a spring and a tree represent the spring of delight and the tree of life in the earthly paradise.

#2 What does Piona have to do with Leonardo da Vinci?

The answer lies in a recent discovery related to Ultima Cena by Leonardo da Vinci, attested by Ernesto Scolari. After a series of renovations, in the background on the left window of Ultima Cena emerges a typical landscape of northern Lake Como where we see a church with an octagonal tower to its right: here’s Piona Abbey at its origin!

In other words, Ultima cena comes from Leonardo da Vinci’s knowledge of our land and from his personal connection with Birago family, which owned the Commendam of the Priory of Piona.

#3 Piona and its richness

Interestingly, in a document of the bishop's curia of Como, dating back to 1256, Piona is listed as one of the twelve richest monasteries in the entire diocese. Not bad!

However, it’s good to remember that still today the life of these monks is not properly “easy”: they follow an extremely rigorous schedule, waking up at 5 am and spending a full day of labour and devotional activity until the “beginning of the great silence” at 9 in the evening.

#4 The art of Cistercian Monks

Besides the love you may have for art and architecture, a good reason to visit Piona Abbey is… for buying the special products crafted directly by the monks! They are indeed specialized in medicinal herbs, cosmetic creams, honey, chocolate and their famous liquor “Gocce Imperiali” (aka Tintura Imperiale) brewed with their antique (and super secret) recipe.

Trust us: it’s quite impossible to leave Piona without buying something!

#5 The Holy Grail: truth or legend?

Piona Abbey is also a place of mysterious stories.

A legend says that a knight of the Crusades, fleeing from papal robbers and assassins, carrying a precious booty - perhaps the Chalice of the Holy Grail - stopped near Northern Lake Como. He asked for protection in a little abbey with friendly monks, who offered hospitality and excellent liquors. A few days later he resumed his journey, climbing the slopes of a large mountain (Monte Legnone); here, in a valley with chestnuts and streams, he hid his precious treasure.

It’s likely to be a story for children, but who knows?, maybe Monte Legnone really had that privilege!

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#6 What happened in the ‘30s

The abbey experienced a long period of decline until its suppression in 1798; the events that brought it back to its ancient splendor are quite interesting.

In 1935, the entrepreneur Pietro Rocca bought the building; in the same year, his brother Cesare went to Ethiopia to build a stretch of road and was killed together with his wife in an attack by the Ethiopian army. After this tragedy, Pietro and his mother Annetta Pogliani decided to entrust the monastery - as a gesture of purification and forgiveness - to the Congregation of the Cistercians of Casamari (Frosinone).

On the second anniversary of the killing, in 1938, a group of monks from Casamari reopened the doors of Piona. That’s why we can visit it still today!

Piona Abbey: travel info

Adress: Via Abbazia di Piona 55, Colico (LC)
Opening hours, monday-sunday: 09:00 - 12:00, 14:30 - 18:00
Contacts: +39 0341 940331
Official website: www.abbaziadipiona.it

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Piona Abbey in Colico: 6 Fun Facts About The Most Magical Spiritual Spot of Lake Como