The sun, minute by minute

The light on the lake

On Lake Como the sun disappears behind the mountains before astronomical sunset, at a different time in each village. The map shows the shadow now, at every hour of today and on the fifteenth of each month.

Explore the light: a table in the sun · any point · the year of light · the full moon

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2 November

Where to photograph this light

Lezzeno12:33
Brienno13:06–13:29
Argegno13:00–13:51
Oliveto Lario13:24–14:15
Dongo12:38–14:26
Musso14:56
Cremia14:51–15:09
Magreglio14:50–15:16
Pianello del Lario14:15–15:17
Menaggio14:18–15:20
Nesso15:15–15:31
San Siro15:23–15:39
Mandello del Lario15:48
Gravedona ed Uniti15:48
Como15:18–15:49
Griante15:11–15:53
Domaso15:56
Moltrasio15:21–15:56
Lierna15:59
Lanzo d'Intelvi15:33–15:59
Abbadia Lariana16:05
Sala Comacina15:46–16:06
Dorio16:13
Faggeto Lario16:15
Sormano15:35–16:18
Valmadrera15:55–16:18
Bellano16:19
Gera Lario16:19
Colico16:20
Colonno15:52–16:20
Carate Urio16:21
Laglio15:26–16:22
Sorico16:23
Dervio16:29
Malgrate15:27–16:30
Lecco16:33
Esino Lario16:13–16:34
Blevio16:36
Cernobbio15:27–16:37
Tremezzina15:08–16:38
Varenna16:42
Bellagio16:45
Pognana Lario16:48
Torno16:41–16:58
Brunate16:14–17:05

The hour on the right is when the ridge takes the sun from the village, that day. Where its streets lose it more than a quarter of an hour apart, there are two: when the shadow enters the first streets and when it has nearly all of them, nine in ten. A half-filled dot means it is happening.

The trails in the sun

The site's walks and rides, stretch by stretch: ochre where the sun reaches at that minute, blue where a mountain takes it, worked out on the same grid as the shadow, a hundred metres a cell, at the trail's own height. For the trails only the mountains count, not the trees: in a wood there is shade anyway.

A table in the sun

Bars, cafés, restaurants and ice-cream shops near the shore with outdoor seating. Today's times estimate the first and last sun at the marked point, shown as a small dot on the relief. Clouds, buildings, trees and awnings can change the tables' exposure.

First sun: bars and cafés

Lakefrontcafé · San Siro07:37
Lakefrontcafé · Abbadia Lariana07:40
Lakefrontcafé · Tremezzina07:47
Via Armando Diazbar · Menaggio07:48
Piazza Fabio Filzibar · Tremezzina07:53
Via Dionigi da Parravicinobar · Como07:55

Last sun

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzinicafé · Bellagio16:45
Lakefrontrestaurant · Varenna16:45
Salita Serbellonirestaurant · Bellagio16:45
Salita Mellarestaurant · Bellagio16:45
Viale Giovanni Polvanicafé · Varenna16:43
Piazza San Giorgiocafé · Varenna16:42

All 66 terraces, village by village

Abbadia Lariana

Lakefrontcafé · Abbadia Lariana07:40–15:52

Bellagio

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzinicafé · Bellagio08:16–16:45
Salita Serbellonirestaurant · Bellagio08:39–16:45
Salita Mellarestaurant · Bellagio08:31–16:45

Bellano

Via XX Settembrecafé · Bellano11:14–16:19
Piazza San Giorgiocafé · Bellano08:49–16:19
Piazza Santa Martarestaurant · Bellano08:28–16:18
Via Vittorio Venetocafé · Bellano08:33–16:17
Via Carlo Albertorestaurant · Bellano09:15–16:15

Cernobbio

Piazza Romarestaurant · Cernobbio09:02–16:37
Piazza Risorgimentobar · Cernobbio09:03–16:35
Piazza Belinzaghicafé · Cernobbio08:50–16:30
Via per Cernobbiorestaurant · Cernobbio08:39–15:23

Colico

Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldirestaurant · Colico09:50–16:19
Viale Padaniarestaurant · Colico09:54–16:19
Via Montecchio Nordrestaurant · Colico08:42–16:18
Via Lungolario Polticafé · Colico09:45–16:17
Via Palazzocafé · Colico09:52–16:15

Como

Piazza Alcide de Gasperirestaurant · Como07:57–16:29
Viale Genobar · Como08:34–16:20
Via Dionigi da Parravicinobar · Como07:55–16:10
Piazza Domenico Croggirestaurant · Como07:52–15:51
Lungo Lario Triesterestaurant · Como07:51–15:51
Piazza Giacomo Matteottirestaurant · Como07:53–15:50
Lungo Lario Trentorestaurant · Como07:28–15:28
Piazza Alessandro Voltarestaurant · Como07:26–15:19

Cremia

Traversa Antica Canonicabar · Cremia08:30–15:15
Via Romacafé · Cremia08:29–15:12

Dervio

Via alla Darsenarestaurant · Dervio08:56–16:25
Lungolago degli Ulivicafé · Dervio08:49–16:24
Via Guglielmo Marconicafé · Dervio09:01–16:22
Via Enrico Fermirestaurant · Dervio08:46–16:18

Domaso

Lakefrontcafé · Domaso08:22–15:59

Dongo

Via Vigna del Lagocafé · Dongo08:32–15:16
Via dell'Arcocafé · Dongo08:17–13:26

Gravedona ed Uniti

Via Sabbatirestaurant · Gravedona ed Uniti08:27–15:44

Griante

Lakefrontcafé · Griante07:56–16:26

Lecco

Via Romacafé · Lecco08:20–16:37
Via Francesco Nullorestaurant · Lecco08:15–16:36
Piazza XX Settembrecafé · Lecco08:19–16:34
Piazza Mario Cermenaticafé · Lecco08:16–16:31
Riva Martiri delle Foibebar · Lecco08:17–16:30

Lierna

Via Romarestaurant · Lierna08:56–15:56
Via Imbarcaderoice-cream shop · Lierna08:54–15:56

Malgrate

Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldirestaurant · Malgrate07:55–15:11

Mandello del Lario

Lakefrontrestaurant · Mandello del Lario08:39–16:00
Piazza Romacafé · Mandello del Lario08:09–15:32
Piazza XXV Aprilecafé · Mandello del Lario08:10–15:30

Menaggio

Via Benedetto Castellirestaurant · Menaggio08:07–15:09
Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldicafé · Menaggio08:05–14:49
Via Comorestaurant · Menaggio08:05–14:40
Via Armando Diazbar · Menaggio07:48–14:15
Via IV Novembrecafé · Menaggio08:06–13:59

Sala Comacina

Via Delmatirestaurant · Sala Comacina08:42–16:34

San Siro

Antica Strada Reginarestaurant · San Siro08:17–16:05
Lakefrontcafé · San Siro07:37–15:37

Tremezzina

Lakefrontcafé · Tremezzina07:47–16:38
Piazza Fabio Filzibar · Tremezzina07:53–16:38
Via Giuseppe Mazzinipub · Tremezzina07:53–15:56

Varenna

Lakefrontrestaurant · Varenna09:07–16:45
Viale Giovanni Polvanicafé · Varenna09:34–16:43
Piazza San Giorgiocafé · Varenna09:07–16:42
Contrada dell'Arcocafé · Varenna09:07–16:41
Contrada Scoscesacafé · Varenna09:07–16:41
Piazzale Martiri della Libertàcafé · Varenna09:28–16:40
Piazza della Stazionecafé · Varenna08:41–16:40

Where the list comes from

From OpenStreetMap (ODbL): the places with outdoor seating within 200 metres of the shore. For opening hours, ask the place.

Lake Como in relief, its three branches and the mountains around them; over it, the mountains' shadow at the chosen hour, and the villages. — Sources and credits
Relief: AWS Terrain Tiles, public domain · Hours of sun: ground and woods of the Lombardy Region (DTM 5×5, DUSAF 7.0), CC-BY 4.0 · Lakes and peaks © OpenStreetMap, ODbL · Forecast: MET Norway, CC BY 4.0

The sun at any point

Choose a point on the map to estimate when the sun appears above the mountains and disappears behind the ridges. The result applies to that point: exposure can change even over a short distance.

Loading the map…

Points with outdoor seating: tap one to estimate when the sun clears the hills.

Tap the map wherever you like: a hotel, a beach, the table of a bar, a holiday flat. Or ask for your position, or paste coordinates from any map.

The year of light

Each village's hours of direct sun on the fifteenth of every month, calculated with the mountains on its horizon taken into account. Exposure varies between villages and with the seasons, especially in winter.

Hours of direct sun by village and month, on the fifteenth of each month, in order of December sun.
Village	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Brunate	8 h 42	9 h 51	11 h 01	12 h 15	13 h 31	14 h 05	13 h 48	12 h 51	11 h 32	10 h 17	9 h 08	8 h 20
Lecco	7 h 43	8 h 29	9 h 31	10 h 59	11 h 58	12 h 29	12 h 15	11 h 23	10 h 19	8 h 47	7 h 56	7 h 24
Sormano	7 h 36	9 h 02	10 h 20	11 h 40	12 h 46	13 h 11	13 h 02	12 h 10	10 h 50	9 h 25	8 h 07	7 h 21
Tremezzina	7 h 54	9 h 09	10 h 08	11 h 38	12 h 25	12 h 57	12 h 43	12 h 01	10 h 52	9 h 31	8 h 24	7 h 15
Malgrate	7 h 29	8 h 26	9 h 26	10 h 58	12 h 00	12 h 50	12 h 26	11 h 23	10 h 16	8 h 55	7 h 50	7 h 05
Bellagio	7 h 24	8 h 29	9 h 27	10 h 30	11 h 13	11 h 46	11 h 34	10 h 47	9 h 57	8 h 54	7 h 46	6 h 56
Sorico	7 h 11	9 h 04	10 h 21	11 h 05	12 h 03	12 h 23	12 h 14	11 h 32	10 h 38	9 h 47	7 h 50	6 h 46
Gera Lario	7 h 08	9 h 03	10 h 19	10 h 58	12 h 07	12 h 33	12 h 19	11 h 26	10 h 37	9 h 47	7 h 37	6 h 45
Carate Urio	7 h 12	8 h 28	9 h 23	10 h 07	10 h 50	11 h 10	11 h 04	10 h 19	9 h 48	8 h 47	7 h 41	6 h 45
San Siro	6 h 54	7 h 51	9 h 00	10 h 15	11 h 05	11 h 41	11 h 31	10 h 46	9 h 29	8 h 28	7 h 06	6 h 44
Abbadia Lariana	7 h 20	8 h 08	8 h 59	10 h 56	12 h 09	13 h 11	12 h 46	11 h 28	9 h 40	8 h 25	7 h 36	6 h 37
Griante	6 h 57	8 h 09	9 h 38	11 h 00	11 h 55	12 h 45	12 h 24	11 h 19	10 h 14	8 h 37	7 h 13	6 h 29
Como	7 h 01	8 h 25	10 h 16	11 h 28	12 h 28	13 h 22	13 h 08	11 h 50	10 h 50	8 h 57	7 h 29	6 h 26
Lanzo d'Intelvi	7 h 21	8 h 58	10 h 04	11 h 23	12 h 37	13 h 03	12 h 51	11 h 52	10 h 38	9 h 23	7 h 58	6 h 25
Sala Comacina	6 h 52	8 h 13	9 h 23	10 h 43	11 h 39	12 h 01	11 h 54	11 h 09	9 h 51	8 h 33	7 h 27	6 h 18
Mandello del Lario	6 h 36	7 h 51	9 h 05	10 h 30	11 h 51	12 h 33	12 h 16	11 h 01	9 h 44	8 h 32	7 h 03	6 h 17
Varenna	6 h 38	7 h 53	8 h 50	11 h 09	11 h 48	12 h 08	12 h 01	11 h 25	9 h 30	8 h 26	7 h 05	6 h 11
Cernobbio	6 h 33	8 h 05	9 h 33	10 h 59	12 h 48	13 h 18	13 h 09	12 h 06	10 h 12	8 h 41	7 h 09	6 h 01
Domaso	6 h 15	8 h 27	10 h 41	11 h 51	12 h 35	12 h 56	12 h 49	12 h 09	11 h 19	9 h 24	6 h 39	5 h 59
Gravedona ed Uniti	6 h 23	7 h 46	10 h 24	11 h 27	12 h 45	13 h 25	13 h 14	11 h 47	11 h 10	9 h 10	6 h 41	5 h 57
Laglio	6 h 19	7 h 26	8 h 09	8 h 59	9 h 53	10 h 11	10 h 02	9 h 27	8 h 26	7 h 48	6 h 42	5 h 55
Dervio	6 h 20	7 h 31	8 h 35	10 h 54	11 h 48	12 h 13	12 h 02	11 h 10	9 h 25	7 h 48	6 h 43	5 h 53
Valmadrera	6 h 19	7 h 20	9 h 31	10 h 31	12 h 03	13 h 02	12 h 33	11 h 07	9 h 53	7 h 59	6 h 47	5 h 53
Lierna	6 h 10	7 h 17	8 h 57	10 h 30	11 h 34	11 h 57	11 h 49	11 h 05	9 h 38	8 h 05	6 h 37	5 h 50
Magreglio	6 h 07	7 h 38	9 h 03	11 h 02	12 h 11	12 h 45	12 h 36	11 h 36	9 h 43	8 h 15	6 h 30	5 h 38
Cremia	5 h 55	7 h 13	9 h 03	10 h 01	11 h 44	12 h 35	12 h 20	10 h 43	9 h 32	8 h 03	6 h 18	5 h 38
Pognana Lario	6 h 01	6 h 54	7 h 48	8 h 38	9 h 27	10 h 02	9 h 38	8 h 59	8 h 10	7 h 12	6 h 23	5 h 35
Musso	5 h 53	7 h 07	8 h 26	11 h 00	11 h 40	12 h 12	11 h 58	11 h 23	9 h 23	7 h 31	6 h 27	5 h 24
Bellano	6 h 29	7 h 52	9 h 25	10 h 23	11 h 14	11 h 55	11 h 45	10 h 40	9 h 53	8 h 29	7 h 26	5 h 15
Menaggio	5 h 27	7 h 13	8 h 47	11 h 35	12 h 37	13 h 19	12 h 55	12 h 03	9 h 49	8 h 19	5 h 54	5 h 12
Pianello del Lario	5 h 32	7 h 32	8 h 42	9 h 55	11 h 45	12 h 21	12 h 04	10 h 50	8 h 59	8 h 02	5 h 59	5 h 08
Esino Lario	5 h 45	8 h 11	9 h 54	11 h 52	12 h 53	13 h 20	13 h 10	12 h 20	10 h 48	8 h 49	6 h 12	4 h 59
Colonno	5 h 09	8 h 33	9 h 34	10 h 54	11 h 53	12 h 22	12 h 12	11 h 22	10 h 02	9 h 00	7 h 18	4 h 53
Faggeto Lario	5 h 58	8 h 14	9 h 52	11 h 17	12 h 37	13 h 17	12 h 56	11 h 50	10 h 20	8 h 58	6 h 47	4 h 50
Colico	5 h 39	7 h 24	10 h 07	12 h 27	13 h 17	13 h 50	13 h 36	12 h 49	11 h 34	8 h 35	5 h 58	4 h 47
Argegno	4 h 35	5 h 23	9 h 50	11 h 39	12 h 43	13 h 18	13 h 03	12 h 21	10 h 38	5 h 58	4 h 46	4 h 24
Oliveto Lario	4 h 41	6 h 20	8 h 15	9 h 43	10 h 28	11 h 03	10 h 47	10 h 05	8 h 56	7 h 16	5 h 12	4 h 23
Moltrasio	4 h 41	6 h 50	8 h 49	9 h 56	10 h 46	11 h 23	11 h 10	10 h 14	9 h 21	7 h 47	5 h 35	4 h 22
Nesso	5 h 23	7 h 14	8 h 44	9 h 47	10 h 58	11 h 23	11 h 11	10 h 16	9 h 13	7 h 37	6 h 35	4 h 20
Dorio	4 h 38	5 h 51	7 h 26	9 h 02	10 h 45	11 h 35	11 h 17	9 h 46	8 h 10	6 h 30	4 h 58	4 h 11
Torno	4 h 23	6 h 13	9 h 31	11 h 06	12 h 01	12 h 40	12 h 24	11 h 36	10 h 35	6 h 44	4 h 52	3 h 59
Dongo	4 h 05	5 h 31	7 h 20	9 h 43	10 h 33	11 h 39	11 h 11	10 h 02	8 h 31	6 h 11	4 h 35	3 h 47
Brienno	3 h 49	5 h 20	7 h 39	8 h 55	9 h 36	9 h 59	9 h 48	9 h 13	8 h 17	6 h 08	4 h 14	3 h 30
Blevio	3 h 15	6 h 27	8 h 31	10 h 07	10 h 37	11 h 08	10 h 55	10 h 19	9 h 20	7 h 31	4 h 55	2 h 44
Lezzeno	0 h 00	6 h 51	9 h 19	11 h 21	12 h 11	13 h 29	12 h 45	11 h 37	9 h 56	8 h 03	0 h 00	0 h 00

The night

The full moon over the ridge

The next full moon is Tuesday 24 November, full at 16:00. For a reference point, assuming a flat horizon, moonrise is estimated at 16:10. With the mountains included, it is estimated in Lanzo d'Intelvi at 16:31 and in Pognana Lario at 20:13.

Times are estimated from the moon's position and the horizon at the reference points. Two times describe variation between nearby sampled points, without measuring every street. Clouds are excluded from the calculation.

All 45 villages

Malgrate16:59–17:193D — watch the moon rise from Malgrate
Magreglio17:003D — watch the moon rise from Magreglio
Griante17:013D — watch the moon rise from Griante
Cernobbio17:043D — watch the moon rise from Cernobbio
Gravedona ed Uniti17:05–17:383D — watch the moon rise from Gravedona ed Uniti
Menaggio17:083D — watch the moon rise from Menaggio
Domaso17:093D — watch the moon rise from Domaso
Moltrasio17:09–17:393D — watch the moon rise from Moltrasio
San Siro17:16–17:323D — watch the moon rise from San Siro
Colico17:213D — watch the moon rise from Colico
Gera Lario17:22–17:523D — watch the moon rise from Gera Lario
Bellagio17:29–19:373D — watch the moon rise from Bellagio
Lecco17:31–17:483D — watch the moon rise from Lecco
Sorico17:35–18:133D — watch the moon rise from Sorico
Torno17:363D — watch the moon rise from Torno
Carate Urio17:40–17:593D — watch the moon rise from Carate Urio
Brunate17:42–18:573D — watch the moon rise from Brunate
Oliveto Lario17:473D — watch the moon rise from Oliveto Lario
Faggeto Lario17:59–18:433D — watch the moon rise from Faggeto Lario
Abbadia Lariana18:00–18:203D — watch the moon rise from Abbadia Lariana
Mandello del Lario18:00–18:473D — watch the moon rise from Mandello del Lario
Dervio18:03–18:193D — watch the moon rise from Dervio
Brienno18:043D — watch the moon rise from Brienno
Como18:04–18:343D — watch the moon rise from Como
Esino Lario18:05–18:313D — watch the moon rise from Esino Lario
Laglio18:11–18:263D — watch the moon rise from Laglio
Bellano18:35–19:033D — watch the moon rise from Bellano
Nesso18:48–19:553D — watch the moon rise from Nesso
Varenna18:55–20:213D — watch the moon rise from Varenna
Lierna19:06–19:303D — watch the moon rise from Lierna
Dorio19:17–19:393D — watch the moon rise from Dorio
Blevio19:28–19:593D — watch the moon rise from Blevio
Pognana Lario19:28–20:193D — watch the moon rise from Pognana Lario

How it is worked out

The calculation estimates when the sun clears the ridges around the chosen point. It accounts for terrain and woodland, but excludes shade from buildings and clouds.

The method, step by step

The relief shows the shape of the ground. Ridges and valleys help identify the slopes that can hide the sun.

For the chosen date and minute, the model compares the sun's position with the terrain. Shaded areas are those where the terrain blocks sunlight.

Each village's times are calculated from a reference point and the outline of the surrounding mountains. These are local estimates, separate from the simplified shadow shown on the map.

The estimated time can vary within one village: today at Dongo the estimated interval runs from 12:38 to 14:26. The model compares points sampled every fifty metres within three hundred metres of the village reference point. Where two times are shown, the interval describes variation between sampled points; it does not measure every street or building.

Around the lake, the calculation uses Lombardy's terrain model and woodland map. Woods are assigned a standard height; vegetation in an individual garden may differ.

A nearby slope can change the estimated time even between points close together. To check a stretch of lakefront or a square, choose the point on the map.

The times also depend on the direction of the sun. A point may remain in shade in the morning and receive sunlight in the afternoon, or the other way round.

The sun's path changes with the seasons. Choose the date of your visit to compare morning and afternoon sunlight.

Clouds can hide the sun even where the model indicates sunlight. Check the weather forecast too for conditions on the day.

Where nearby mountains leave the horizon open, the calculation also includes distant peaks, up to two hundred kilometres away. Their presence in the model does not guarantee that they will be visible through the day's haze.

For a point chosen on the map, the horizon is calculated from about two metres above the ground. A raised terrace or balcony may have a different horizon.

In the 3D model, heights are exaggerated to make the terrain easier to read. Choosing a village restores the true vertical scale, with a view from about twenty metres above the ground. The sun and moon are shown in calculated positions. Water beyond the relief uses OpenStreetMap data through OpenFreeMap.