5 things to see in Lecco if you don't have much time

For many people Lecco is a stopover on their way to Lake Como, for others it is the destination of a trip out of town for a few hours, suitable for those who want to get away from the frenzy of the big city and relax their mind in a place sorrounded by the mountains and reflected in the waters of the lake. Lecco has a lot to offer, both from a cultural-literary and natural point of view, however in this article we will only focus on the main and unmissable attractions for those who want to sightsee the city in a couple of hours. These sights are close to each other and can also be easily reached if you get to Lecco by train.

1. VALLO DELLE MURA

A long time ago, the ancient village of Lecco was protected by its walls. In fact, Azzone Visconti gave the order in 1336 to build a wall with a triangular perimeter intended to enclose the houses and the castle. Works to demolish the walls began in 1782, when Emperor Joseph II of Austria declared the fortress of Lecco abolished. The Vallo delle Mura represents the only part of them still visible today and is located near the railway station. From here you can then head towards the church of San Nicolò along via Bovara and via Mascari.

2. BASILICA E "MATITONE"

The Basilica of Lecco is dedicated to San Nicolò and is located in a privileged position, from which you can admire the lake and the main squares of the cities. The church stands on the remains of the ancient city walls and is the result of a series of expansion and restoration works that took place on the ruins of a thirteenth-century Romanesque church. The current neoclassical appearance is due to Giuseppe Bovara, a nineteenth-century architect, while its neo-Gothic bell tower, 96 meters high, was designed at the beginning of the twentieth century by Giovanni Ceruti and was built on the base of one of the ancient medieval towers. Due to its shape, it is better known as "Matitone" (which means "huge pencil in italian"). Don't miss a tour of the bell tower to see the city from above, available via online booking.

3. THE SQUARES

Going down the double staircase in front of the basilica, you reach Piazza Cermenati, dedicated to Mario Cermenati, geologist and mountaineer from Lecco, whose statue stands in the center of the square.

A few steps further, there is Piazza XX Settembre, the heart of the historic center sorrounded by elegant residential buildings. Here it is possible to visit the Palazzo delle Paure (Palace of fears), so nicknamed by the people of Lecco because it was the place where they went to pay taxes. Currently the building hosts several temporary exhibitions, the Contemporary Art Gallery and the Lecco Alpine Observatory. From here you can walk along Via Roma, the shopping street, passing through Piazza Garibaldi, which houses the Teatro della Società designed by Giuseppe Bovara, and Piazza Manzoni, where you will find the monument dedicated to the writer of "The Betrothed".

4. TORRE VISCONTEA

Piazza XX Settembre was also the place where, at the behest of Azzone Visconti, the village castle was located, therefore positioned on the lake shore. Only the fourteenth-century quadrangular tower survived the demolitions in the 19th century: you will notice it nestled between two buildings on the corner of the square. During the nineteenth century it was used as a prison. On the ground floor you can still see the guardhouse quarters and some cannonballs. On the first floor you can visit some temporary exhibitions, which you can stay informed about at this link.

5. LAKESIDE

From the squares you can then reach the lakeside and enjoy a walk sorrounded by the mountains. Don't miss a stop on the floating platform, located in front of the War Memorial, and proceed until you come across something very curious in the lake: the golden statue dedicated to San Nicolò. A break on a bench to admire the mountains surrounding the lake, with the town of Malgrate on the opposite shore and the tip of Abbadia Lariana to the north, will conclude your short Lecco experience.

Here is a map of this itinerary about the main 5 things to see in the center of Lecco.