History guide Menaggio

We start in Piazza Garibaldi with the guided tour of Menaggio. We then go up Via Calvi, where the church of Santa Marta 2 is on the right. On the front side we discover the tombstone from the 1st century AD, of Minicio Exorato, a nobleman of the Roman Empire. Above it is a stone from Menaggios Castle from the 15th century. The stone image is now the coat of arms of the city of Menaggio.

In the church we can devote ourselves to the contemplation of some valuable paintings, including a representation of the Nativity and a flagellazione (flagellation) from the years around 1700.

At the end of Via Calvi we reach the parish church of Santo Stefano 3, which is of very ancient origin. However, its former structure is no longer recognizable today due to restorations and alterations, even the orientation of the church has been reversed over the centuries.
The interior, divided into three naves, was made in 1899 by Tagliaferri, an artist of the Pagnona school, frescoed. Particularly noteworthy is the martyrdom of Santo Stefano depicted in the apse vault. In the presbytery there are two oil paintings by the painter Castelli, who comes from Menaggio, depicting two miracles of the Last Supper: the bleeding host under the Protestants' dagger and a wicked communicant who sinks to the ground in front of San Carlo Borromeo.
& uuml; Above the Altar of the Madonna, at the end of the left aisle, is a copy of a painting by Bernadino Luini, which depicts Mary with Jesus and an angel; the original was- as a price for the promise that & razl; the district court is moved from Tremezzo to Menaggio- ceded to the French. The altar is surrounded by copper medallions depicting scenes from the life of the Madonna. In the middle of the right aisle we see an painting of considerable size by an unknown painter depicting San Giorgio. The altar of the Sacred Heart is in the 17th century. by maestri intelvesi (a sculpture and handicraft school from Val d'Intelvi that worked all over Europe).

We leave the church and turn right into Via Caronti , follow it to the end, turn right again into Via Leoni and after 30 meters turn left into Via Castellino da Castello.
On the ascent to the Castello, which dominates the town, you have the opportunity to see a few The impressive portals can be admired- especially at the birthplace of Father Gabriele Malagrida 4, on the corner of Via Strecioum. He was a Jesuit from Menaggins who proselytized in South America and was tortured to death in Lisbon in 1761 under the regime of the despot Pombal. There is a memorial plaque on the house wall.
Today's Castello gives only a vague idea of the extent to which must have had. In fact, the castle was conquered by the Grisons in 1523 and completely razed. But some of the mighty walls have been preserved, which you can still admire here and there.
In addition, the house front of the upper Via Castellino da Castello traces the original contours of the castle.
On the facade of the house with the number 54 we discover a remarkable medieval double sculpture, namely a winged cat and a couple from the 11th century. These figures come from the Church of San Giacomo, which used to be near the Castello.
The Church of San Carlo 5 was built by Cinzio Calvi on the ruins of the old Castello in 1614, around him and his Mrs. Caterina Camozzi to serve as a burial place. The bell tower & ldquo; a vela & rdquo; in Spanish style, which, however, cannot be seen from Via Castellino da Castello, but from Via Lusardi.

At the end of Via Castellino da Castello, turn left and follow the Via N.Sauro only approx. 20 m. You then turn left just in front of a small parking lot and pass the mighty walls of the old Castello. You pass a second small parking lot and reach the beginning of Via Fabbri. In Via Fabbri there are some sculptures that date back to the 12th century. go back. Right at the beginning you can see on the left a lattice gate, on the right post of which is the head of the bull of St. San Luca 6. In the same street we come across a fountain called "del Salvatore" 7, unfortunately in the upper arch of which there is one Heavily weathered bushes can be seen in relief.

At the end of Via Fabbri, we walk down Via Castellino da Castello a few meters back (to the right) and turn left into Via Strecioum. Always following it straight on we reach one of the most beautiful and characteristic bridges 8, which cross the river. Lead Senagra. In the middle, in a niche, you can admire a bas-relief by Vannunccini (1965), on the right, a chapel dedicated to the Madonna di Caravaggio.

Walk back a few steps turn left into Via Loveno, then turn left again into Via Leoni, which you follow to the end. Cross Via Lusardi, pass the little church of San Rocco 9- built in 1772- and turn into Via Roma past Lido Menaggio 9.

You now walk along the Lungo Lago road Benedetto Castelli along. There is a monument dedicated to the silk weavers 10 by Francesco Somaini, donated by the Mantero family, the owners of several silk spinning mills. This sculpture made of Carrara marble and bronze, over ten meters high, interprets the diligence; and the toil of the workers who were employed in the traditional silk production on Lake Como.
Continuing along the quayside, you will pass the Grand Hotel Victoria, built in 1885, and finally back to Piazza Garibaldi