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Lake Como Route
1. The Lake
2. Cernobbio
3. Villa Erba
4. San Vincenzo
5. Villa dʼEste
6. Moltrasio
7. Villa Passalacqua
8. SantʼAgata
9. Laglio
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14. Battistero
15. Balbianello
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19. Menaggio
20. Santo Stefano
21. Bellagio
22. San Giacomo
23. Villa Serbelloni
24. Villa Melzi
25. Varenna
26. Villa Monastero
27. Vezio
28. Piona
Stresa
Crespi d'Adda
Gardaland
What's on out of town
Chiaravalle
Morimondo
Certosa di Pavia
Vigevano
Sabbioneta
Como
Lake Como Route1. The Lake
2. Cernobbio
3. Villa Erba
4. San Vincenzo
5. Villa dʼEste
6. Moltrasio
7. Villa Passalacqua
8. SantʼAgata
9. Laglio
10. Isola Comacina
11. Ossuccio
12. Lenno
13. Santo Stefano
14. Battistero
15. Balbianello
16. Mezzegra
17. Tremezzo
18. Villa Carlotta
19. Menaggio
20. Santo Stefano
21. Bellagio
22. San Giacomo
23. Villa Serbelloni
24. Villa Melzi
25. Varenna
26. Villa Monastero
27. Vezio
28. Piona
Stresa
Crespi d'Adda
Gardaland
What's on out of town
Piona is the destination No. 28in our visiting tour on Lake Como. A list of destinations is available, each with an audioguide. We travel northbound, from Como to Piona.
Colico
tel. [+39] 0341 940331
mapSome twenty kilometres north of Varenna, a perfect ending to this tour is the medieval Piona Abbey, close to the northern tip of Lake Como.
If you are driving, leave the main road (the toll-free highway no. 36) at the signposted exit and head towards Dorio. After covering three kilometres take the turn-off to your right. Once you've gone through Olgiasca you descend towards the abbey along a cobble-paved road through woods.
Another option is to get here over the lake, taking the boat for Colico.
The Abbazia di Piona was founded by Cluniac monks in the 12th century on a headland that juts out into the lake. After being abandoned for long centuries, it was restored in the early 20th century and entrusted to monks of the Cistercian order who make liqueurs and herbal teas here.
The buildings of the Piona Abbey include the church of San Nicolao with its adjoining cloister and, at its rear, the remains of an oratory dedicated to Saint Mary.
The church, which was consacrated in 1138, has a simple gabled façade. The interior is austere; two lovely marble lions support the stoup.
The quadrangular cloister in late Romanesque-early Gothic style has slender pillars with capitals embellished with geometric and fantasy figures; its walls are frescoed. Most of the forty-one pillars holding up the arches are made of white marble quarried locally, near Piona.
Preserved on the walls of the cloister are fragments of frescos and decorative motifs: one of the most significant is a calendar depicting the months of the year.
North of Piona the mountain resorts of the Valtellina are very popular, both for summer hikers and winter skiers. But if you're heading back to the plain, take note that Como is about 70 kilometres south, and Milan 85.
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Da Vinci = No Problem
The Last Supper, otherwise difficult to book?
You can reserve a specialized visit through our partner Musement.
The Last Supper, otherwise difficult to book?
You can reserve a specialized visit through our partner Musement.
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