Plesio, Lake Como: A Paradise For Hiking… With Surprisingly Ancient Origins! [Infographic]
Monte Grona, above Plesio. Image by LeMontagne.net
Quite often our international clients ask us which is the most panoramic village of Lake Como: a pretty challenging question!
As far as the western shore is concerned, our answer is Plesio, in the hillside of Menaggio. Plesio is THE panoramic village, or “the balcony over the central lake”, as we like to call it.
That’s because from its altitude and from the peaks of the awesome mountains that surround it (Monte Grona and Monte Bregagno first), you can really see the famous Y-shape of Lake Como: Lecco on the left, Como on the right, and the iconic Bellagio promontory in the middle. Quite an incomparable and extremely thrilling view!
Monte Grona, above Plesio. Image by LeMontagne.net
Pic by our Elisa Maglia | The view from San Domenico chapel in Breglia, one of the hamlets of Plesio
The interesting thing is that this unspoilt oasis immersed in a magical silence is within an easy drive from all the amenities of the central Lake Como (that’s why it’s an absolutely strategic location if you’re looking for a property in the area): just 10/15 minutes by car from Menaggio, depending on the specific hamlets of Plesio. The Municipality indeed includes many quarters (“frazioni”): Plesio, Breglia, Calveseglio, Ligomena, Logo, Piazzo, Barna and San Rocco. The cool thing is that each one has perfectly retained the late medieval structure, so that one has always the feeling to make a journey back in time.
Some houses still show frescoes of religious character on the façade and portals bearing the coats of arms (carved in the granite) of the families who lived there. The coat of arms itself is, indeed, the emblem of Plesio.
The ancient origins
Plesio (a name that probably derives from the Celtic and means "rock above the water”) boasts incredibly ancient origins, by far among the most antique of the area: the remains of an imposing wall surrounding the top of the Ciapp del castell suggest the presence of a castle dating back to the final bronze age (XII century BC). Apparently, the fortified residence enabled to dominate and monitor the surrounding area: in moments of danger, the tributary population could find a refuge.
In the different hamlets of Plesio, a wealth of archeological findings (like the prehistoric stone bowls found in Breglia, or the two pots found on the road that leads from Calveseglio to Plesio and part of a cremation tomb of a female character) attest to the human presence at the beginning of the fourth century BC.
The promenade to San Domenico di Breglia, one of the most awesome panoramic spots of Lake Como
Breglia is by far the most ancient hamlet of the municipality. Here, the famous Italian poet Gianpietro Lucini (1867-1914, considered an important innovator of Italian poetry) spent his holiday for a long time.
There’s a short walk from Breglia, suitable for everyone, that will take you to San Domenico, a small chapel about 800 m high that offers a simply wonderful and emotional view of Lake Como and its mountains.
You can start from the car park next to the church of San Gregorio and then take the mule track that enters the wood towards the east. Reached a first crossroads, where you’ll find the signs, you can continue to the left for San Domenico (after about 25 minutes of walking).
Built overlooking the lake, in a breathtaking position, the chapel offers a wonderful view that embraces one of the most beautiful stretches of the Lario, Bellagio, the bifurcation of the two branches and most of the alpine peaks that surround it.
Some other unmissable must-see in the different hamlets
A quick roundup of must-see in Plesio:
The parish church of S. Fedele: built in 1582, it preserves frescoes dedicated to S. Fedele, paintings by D. Beghé and C. Andreani in 1909, and a Carnisi organ from 1846.
The boulder (masso avello) of Calveseglio (2nd century d.c: ): the grave is completely dug into an erratic boulder of gneiss and with a gouged lid carved into two sloping gables. The masso avello still represents an archaeological mystery!
The "Column of the Plague", which bears the year 1649, located in the parvis of the parish church of Plesio
In Logo: the old wash house, still working, and the oratory of S. Sebastiano, considered the oldest in the whole parish.
In Barna: Chiesa di S. Maria Maddalena (1635). In addition to the various paintings of the Lombard school, here are preserved a precious wooden crucifix from the 17th cent, an organ (Carcano) of 1851, and a gilded wooden altar from 1886.
If you are a mountains lover, take notes of these hiking trails too, and start exploring!
Vetta Monte Grona (1.736 mt)
Vetta Monte Bregagno (2.107 mt)
Rifugio Menaggio (1.383 mt)
Tana de l'orc
Alpe Nesdale
Alpe Varoo
Torrente Sanagra e Sass Scurbee
Mulino Spinzi
Rifugio Menaggio. Image by LeMontagne.net
© Lakeside | See the related photo credits in the article
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