Welcome to Lecco,
city of nearly 50.000 inhabitants, that is situated on the extreme southern point of the eastern shore in a flat area surrounded by rocky mountains that remind us of the Dolomites. What today is a dynamic town, once was the village that inspired Alessandro Manzoni to write is novel “I Promessi Sposi”.
Lecco is in an attractive mountainous landscape setting and the peaks of the mountains Monte Barro, San Martino, monte Due Mani and especially the Resegone appear aligned in a row like teeth of a saw. The lakefront is the most charming part of Lecco and the Canottieri Lecco has been offering water sport facilities for over a century (swimming, canoeing, rowing).
The town centre is built around the old village fortification, surrounding the harbour and the main streets, via Cavour, via Volta and via Resinelli. The heart of the old town is: Piazza XX Settembre, the old market square with the ancient Torre Viscontea, in memory of the old castle of Lecco, and Cermenati square, important commercial centre directly on the lakefront, with the 15th century Prepositura, the Palazzotto del Pretorio and Palazzo delle Paure.
Lecco boasts a rich history: from its ancient Celtic origins to the period of the medieval commune, from the Austrian and Spanish dominations (well- testified by Manzoni) to its strategic position. Today Lecco is a modern industrial town based on the steelworks and silk industry.
Lecco – Old bridge
CC maupao
Lecco – What to see
The symbol of the town is the Bridge Azzone Visconti, call also Old Bridge (ponte Vecchio), built between 1336 and 1338 by Azzone Visconti to join together the town, Valsassina and the eastern shore with Milan Dukedom.
The bridge was built in the point where the lake flows into the Adda’s river and throughout the years is has be modified several times: the original bridge had eight arches. Then a tenth arch was added and then again an eleventh, two towers and a drawbridge that established further defence.
The 18th century Basilica of San Nicolò rises on the northern border of the historical centre, on the ruins of the old walls of the town, This interesting building was redesigned and enlarged, by Giuseppe Bovara in 1830 and still today the remains of the ancient walls that join up with the circular turret mast and the Neo Gothic bell tower are visible. Inside you can find traces of the 12th century in the Baptistery chapel and late 13th century frescoes. nning of the village of Vergonzano, it has a big garden that goes down to lake and a corner tower decorated with arched-windows.
Palazzo Belgiojoso is an example of the simplicity of the local art in the late 18th century, with the typical open courtyard with colonnaded porticos and hanging lodges. Once it belonged to Mellerio Belgiojoso and today it has become the Civic Archeological Museum and Natural Museum. There are important sections dedicated to the history and territory of Lecco, like the section relating to metallurgy.
Villa Manzoni will satisfy the lovers of history, literature and painting. This elegant residence belonged to the Manzoni family from 1710 to 1818 and in 1963 it was bought by the town council of Lecco. On the ground floor there is the Manzonian museum, while on the second floor there is the Town Council’s gallery. In the section dedicated to the famous writer of the “Promessi Sposi” there are some antiques of Manzoni and some original furnishing.
Lecco and its surroundings are proposed today also as Manzoniani places and it is possible to visit the most famous settings of Renzo and Lucia (Itinerari Manzoniani).
Lecco nights
CC Luca Casartelli
Lecco – Cuisine and Restaurants
Here listed are some good restaurants in Lecco and nearby:
Santa Brigida Hosteria
Vicolo Monte Tesoro, 2 – Calolziocorte
Tel. +39 0341 644275
www.santabrigidahosteria.com
Specialized in home cooking favorites.
Closed on Tuesdays.
Nuova Trattoria Dac a Tra
Via S. Lorenzo, 1 – Castello di Brianza
Tel. +39 039 531 2410
www.dacatra.it
Thanks to the passion and creativity of Chef Stefano Binda and the genuineness of the ingredients and the freshness of raw materials, you will be surprised by the contemporary atmosphere and the casual elegance of the environment, ideal for enjoying a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner with friends and family. Fulcrum of its cuisine: raw materials, of course, always excellent, genuine, fresh and preferably zero km.
Closed on Sundays evening and Mondays.
Mamaioa Bistrot
Via Carlo Cattaneo 80 – 23900 Lecco
Tel. +39 0341 321688
www.mamaioa.com
Seafood specialties.
Pierino Penati Ristorante
Via XXIV Maggio 36 – 23897 Vigano Brianza (LC)
Tel. 039.956020
Sited in the green hills of Brianza, in an enchanting garden designed to capture unforgettable moments.
Closed on Sundays evening and Mondays.
Al Porticciolo 84
via Fausto Valsecchi 5 – 23900 Lecco
Tel. +39 0341 498103
www.porticciolo84.it
Cuisine based only on seefood dishes like homemade tagliolini with crab pulp, fish soup with saffron, and barbecued mixed. Dining room with big fireplace.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Lecco – How to get there
By air
From the Milanese air terminals (Malpensa, Linate e Orio al Serio), you have to make your way to Milan Central Station or Bergamo’s train station and from here you can reach Lecco very easily.
By train
You can arrive in Lecco following the directions: Milano-Sondrio-Tirano, Brescia-Sondrio-Lecco, Lecco-Sesto San Giovanni, Lecco-Molteno-Como.From Milan and Bergamo there are local trains that take you to Lecco in respectively one hour and half an hour, while from Como you have to change train at Monza or Molteno. (train timetables www.ferroviedellostato.com).
By car
From Milan, you can get to Lecco very easily in an hour taking the highway Nuova Valassina(always straight on from Viale Zara and Viale Fulvio Testi). Lecco is 30km away from Bergamo and Como and 70 km from Sondrio.
From Milan you have to take the motorway A9 (Como-Chiasso), take the exit Como nord and drive along the statale Regina for approx. 15km and you arrive in Lecco.