MENAGGIO
Menaggio, a walk in history and elegance
Menaggio is a picturesque town of ancient origins overlooking Lake Como.
Menaggio is loved by tourists all over the world, especially because of its elegant lake promenade and its proximity to very popular towns such as Bellagio and Varenna (where you can get by ferry in 15-30 minutes) and to Tremezzina (easily reachable by C10 bus in 10′).
In this guide I collected the best things to do and see in Menaggio: get ready to pack your bags and start planning your visit to Lake Como!
Discover Menaggio
Sights & things to do
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Sights & things to do
Upon your arrival in Menaggio, you may want to experience the town the way a local would.
In that case, start your tour from Via Calvi and take a look at the small boutiques and shops of craftsmen, who sell local products such as food, shoes, clothing, and home accessories.
While walking, you should pay attention to the Church of Santa Marta, which you will find in the middle of the street.
Take some time to visit the interior of the church, and admire the ancient paintings that date back to the 17th century.
By continuing your walk in the direction of Lake Como you will get to Piazza Garibaldi, a fantastic place to sit for a coffee or an ice cream while enjoying an awe-anspiring view of the most beautiful lake in the world.
The elegant lake promenade of Menaggio starts from Piazza Garibaldi and is the perfect place for a relaxing walk between flower beds and colorful houses.
During your walk along Viale Benedetto Castelli, the road that runs along Lake Como, you will notice many facilities that allow you to take a boat trip or rent a boat in Menaggio.
If you have enough time, don’t miss the chance to go aboard a boat and visit the other pearls of Lake Como, such as Bellagio and Varenna, where you can easily get by ferry.
Lake Como is even more beautiful when seen from the water!
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A few tips for your stay in Menaggio
The upper part of the town still retains a medieval look and is characterized by narrow alleys, steep stairs and stone buildings.
If you want to visit the oldest part of Menaggio, Get to Via Castellino da Castello and walk along the enormous perimeter walls that once bordered the ancient castle, now largely demolished. You will take a step back in time!
Enter the narrow Via Strecium and see the picturesque bridge over the Senagra stream, where you can enjoy the sound of the waterfall below.
On the bridge you will find a bas-relief by Vannuccini, as well as a chapel that is dedicated to the Madonna di Caravaggio (the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Caravaggio, Lombardy, in 1432).
Loveno, hamlet of Menaggio, hosts the beautiful Villa Mylius Vigoni, definitely one of the best things to see in Menaggio.
Villa Mylius Vigoni was built in the first half of the 19th century and is surrounded by a large English garden that, together with the breathtaking view of Lake Como, creates a naturalistic setting of rare beauty.
The villa currently houses the German-Italian Center for European Excellence: this is a high level conference center that “aims to foster the Italian-German dialogue in a European and global context”.
Guided tours to the villa and its extensive park are usually available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from March to October, but they wrote on their website that, from 6 August 2021, all guided tours of Villa Mylius-Vigoni and the park are suspended. If you want more information, you will find there an e-mail contact.
However, if you want to see it from the outside, you can get to Villa Mylius Vigoni by walking along the footpath that starts from Via Strecium (click here to open directions).
Private and public tours
If you are looking for private boat tours from Menaggio, here are some options that may be right for you!
Looking for information about public boat service? Read my guide to boats and ferries on Lake Como.
Public boat service is perfect if you are on a day trip want to reach any other town of the lake.
Beaches in Menaggio
Also, if you are in Menaggio and want to relax on a beach, you can choose between the public beach Lerai and the Lido di Menaggio, which offers two swimming pools, a restaurant and a small playground for children.
Discover the best beaches in Menaggio!
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Want to see more hotels, apartments or villas?
Check out my entire selection of the best places to stay in Lake Como!
Is Menaggio worth visiting?
Menaggio is definitely worth a visit! Like other popular Lake Como’s towns, it has beaches, places to hike and typical restaurants that will make your trip unique. The boat service will easily take you to Bellagio and Varenna in 15-30 minutes, and you can also get to Tremezzina by C10 bus in 10 minutes.
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