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The balcony of Como. Funicular ride from the city, panoramic walk to Faro Voltiano lighthouse, sunset views over the Alps.

Things to do

The best of Brunate

  1. Ride the Como–Brunate funicolare
    No. 01

    Ride the Como–Brunate funicolare

    The 1894 funicular climbs from Piazza De Gasperi on the Como lakefront to Brunate in seven minutes, gaining 500 metres on a 55-percent gradient. Departures every 15–30 minutes, €3.60 one-way, €6.50 return; last run is 22:30 in winter and around midnight in summer. Sit on the right going up for the best basin view.

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  2. Walk to the Faro Voltiano
    No. 02

    Walk to the Faro Voltiano

    A 30-minute paved walk from the upper station leads to the 1927 octagonal lighthouse built for the centenary of Alessandro Volta's death. Climb the spiral staircase to the 360-degree terrace: first basin of the lake, Rhaetian Alps to the north, Milan plain to the south on clear days. Free to enter, donation appreciated.

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  3. Hike toward Monte Boletto and Capanna Mara
    No. 03

    Hike toward Monte Boletto and Capanna Mara

    Brunate is the head of the Triangolo Lariano walking network. The medium path to Monte Boletto (1236m) takes around two hours one way through chestnut and beech woods; Capanna Mara offers polenta and a wide alpine view at the turnaround. Bring proper shoes and water — there are no fountains on the ridge.

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  4. Trace the Liberty villa walk
    No. 04

    Trace the Liberty villa walk

    Via Roma and Via Pissarottino are lined with Italian Art Nouveau villas built between 1890 and 1915, when Milanese silk barons made Brunate their belle époque summer resort. Most are private but the floral stucco facades, wrought-iron balconies and tower turrets talk freely from the street.

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  5. Stay for sunset on a terrace
    No. 05

    Stay for sunset on a terrace

    Baita Belvedere, Bellavista and La Bondella work the sunset circuit with polenta, missoltino and alpine cheeses. The light hits Como's roofs around 18:30 in autumn and 20:30 in midsummer; reserve weekends, and bring cash for the smaller trattorie.

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Good to know. Brunate is a small, calm hillside village and generally very safe, but a few practical notes help: the funicular and the city of Como's lakefront below get busy in peak season, so keep an eye on bags and phones in crowds and at the pier. The walking routes to the Faro Voltiano and San Maurizio are steep with narrow, sometimes uneven mule-track paths and limited shade, so wear proper shoes, carry water, and watch your footing near unfenced viewpoints and the lighthouse balconies. If you head down to the lake to swim, note that Lake Como is deep and cold with no lifeguards, so stay near designated areas and supervise children.

Practical info