Easy Como
Events

Northern tip of the lake. Forte di Fuentes ruins, the Pian di Spagna nature reserve and a wilder, alpine-feeling shoreline.

Things to do

The best of Colico

  1. Climb to Forte di Fuentes
    No. 01

    Climb to Forte di Fuentes

    The ruined 17th-century Spanish fort sits on a low hill above the wetlands, built in 1603 to control the Adda valley and abandoned by Napoleon two centuries later. A 5 km walk or a short drive reaches the gate; inside, broken bastions, vaulted casemates and a clean panorama down the whole northern lake. Entry €7, open seasonally — check before going as hours vary by month.

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  2. Visit Forte Montecchio Nord
    No. 02

    Visit Forte Montecchio Nord

    One of the best-preserved World War I forts in Europe, built 1911–1914 with its original 149 mm guns still mounted on rotating turrets — the only Italian battery of its kind never converted to scrap. Guided tours only; €9 entry, reservation recommended depending on the day. A 20-minute uphill walk from the lakefront or a short drive to the upper gate.

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  3. Abbazia di Piona on the Olgiasca peninsula
    No. 03

    Abbazia di Piona on the Olgiasca peninsula

    A Cluniac monastery clinging to the tip of a wooded peninsula, with a 13th-century Romanesque cloister still in daily monastic use. The monks sell their own herbal liqueurs, honey and tinctures from a small shop by the entrance. Free admission, open 09:00–12:00 and 14:30–18:00. The peninsula is a 10-minute drive south of Colico or a longer cycle along the lakefront.

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  4. Walk the Pian di Spagna wetlands
    No. 04

    Walk the Pian di Spagna wetlands

    A protected wetland reserve where the Adda river meets the lake and the smaller Lago di Mezzola — reedbeds, herons, marsh harriers and dragonflies, with flat marked paths suitable for any pace. Free, open year-round, best at dawn for birds and mist. The reserve's visitor centre at Sorico has maps and a small natural history exhibit.

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Good to know. Colico is a calm, family-friendly town, but stay alert in the busiest lakefront and ferry-pier areas in high season, where crowds can attract occasional pickpocketing, and keep valuables secure on the beaches while you swim. The roads up to Forte Montecchio Nord, Forte di Fuentes and the Olgiasca peninsula are narrow and winding, so drive and walk carefully, and remember Lake Como's water stays cold and deep with sudden afternoon Breva winds that can pick up quickly — swim near supervised areas and respect the conditions if you windsurf or kayak.

Practical info