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Menaggio

Menaggio Castle

Above the centre of Menaggio, the medieval quarter still called Castello: the walls of the stronghold destroyed in 1523, the church of San Carlo, built on its ruins in 1614, and cobbled lanes with Romanesque reliefs.

Visit duration
30 min – 1 h
Booking
Not required
Area
Centro Lago
The church of San Carlo from above, with the bell gable on its roof, the stone houses around it and the cypresses; behind, the lake and the mountains of the opposite shore.Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Ottantafame · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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The church of San Carlo from above, with the bell gable on its roof, the stone houses around it and the cypresses; behind, the lake and the mountains of the opposite shore.

Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Why go

Castello is the medieval quarter in upper Menaggio, where parts of the fortress walls survive.

The stronghold probably dates from between the eighth and tenth centuries, watching over the Via Regina and the connection towards Lake Lugano. It was destroyed in 1523 by Grisons troops. Among the remains stands the church of San Carlo, with its bell gable; Cinzio Calvi had it built as a tomb for himself and his wife Caterina Camozzi. Lanes, old doorways and medieval sculptures line the climb from Santo Stefano along Via Castellino da Castello.

  • The medieval quarter above Menaggio, with the walls of the castle destroyed in 1523.
  • A walk up from the centre, on the town's circular history route.

Highlights

  • The castle's perimeter walls
  • The church of San Carlo with its bell gable
  • The Romanesque reliefs at number 54
  • The head of Saint Luke's bull in Via Fabbri

Getting there

  • From Piazza Garibaldi, where the tourist office is, walk along Via Calvi to Santo Stefano; behind the church the climb up Via Castellino da Castello begins. It is the upper part of the town's circular history walk.
The medieval relief set into number 54: a winged feline and, above it, the heads of a couple.Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Accessibility

  • The climb up Via Castellino da Castello is made of steps, and the lane along the walls is cobbled.

On the map

Explore the lake
MenaggioMenaggio Castle

© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

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