The Manzoniana Walk, a timeless event
26 July 2025
Photo by FotoLibera - PH&VIDEO Luciano, Eugenio, Elisa and Camilla
Photos for the “Manzoni Walk Lecco”
Lecco, the city of Promessi Sposi and landscapes that speak to the heart
Who says that to experience the enchantment of Lake Como you absolutely have to land in Bellagio or stroll among Como's boutiques? There's another shore, the eastern one, which holds a more reclusive but profoundly authentic charm: Lecco, Alessandro Manzoni's town, the town where mountains descend to gaze elegantly and sternly into the deep waters of the lake.
Yet, despite being the cradle of the most famous Italian literary work, few associate Lecco with that infamous schoolroom incipit: “That branch of Lake Como which turns towards the south...” A paradoxical fate for a city that not only served as the backdrop for Betrothed, but it has inspired its atmospheres, characters and landscapes.
Alessandro Manzoni was from Milan, that's true. But his soul found breath here, among these sharp mountains and this silent lake. Lecco was the family's favourite retreat., and it is from these places that he drew inspiration to give life to Renzo and Lucia, to Fra Cristoforo's convent, to the Castle of the Unnamed, to the poignant melancholy of Addio monti.
You only have to leave the city centre to come across Pescarenico, with its moored boats and old-fashioned air: it is here that Fra Cristoforo lived. Vercurago, high above, looms the Castle of the Unnamed, a symbol of power and redemption. Olate, among the alleyways still dotted with silences, it is said that Lucia's house stood, and further on, at Pasturo, the narrative's rustic soul takes shape.
Places that – I assure you – are not just “to be seen”, but to hear.
Lecco is not just about literature. It's a city that reveals itself slowly. Lakeside promenade, on a clear day, is a small open-air painting: the Resegone, with its unmistakable saw-like crest, dominates the horizon like a silent sentinel. Walking here, ice cream in hand and the breeze rippling the water, is an experience that reconciles you with time.
In the heart of the city, the historic centre mix the Middle Ages with modern shop windows. The Basilica of St Nicholas overlooks the lake proudly and the Old Bridge, quoted by Manzoni himself, tells of a time when the river Adda marked borders deeper than geographical ones.
And a visit to... cannot be missed Manzoni Museum, in the villa that belonged to the writer's family. It's an almost obligatory stop for anyone who wants to understand how much Lecco entered not only Manzoni's novels but also his heart.
Lecco is also an excellent destination for those travelling with children. There is a large lakeside playground, there’s a cycle path that runs alongside the Adda all the way to Milan, and in the surrounding area, there are ideal excursions for the whole family: The Orrido of Bellano, the’Piona Abbey, and for those who love the mountains, the Piani d'Erna and the Pian delle Betulle, and vast terraces suspended over the world.
And if you want to broaden the scope, a few kilometres away opens up the Valsassina, land of pastures, cheeses and legends, where children can run free among meadows and alpine pastures.
There's a subtle, bitter irony in the fact that the Lecco branch of Lake Como is the least celebrated. Perhaps because it lacks the glitz, the luxury tourism, the red-carpet glamour. But it does have authenticity, ...the real one, the one that gets under your skin and never leaves you.
And perhaps it was precisely this that struck Manzoni. Not only the beauty of the landscape, but the dignity of its people, the strength of its mountains, the eloquent silence of its lake.
Yes, Lecco deserves more It's a quote from the margin of a school textbook. It is a city that speaks softly, but those who know how to listen are enchanted by it. It is literature that takes shape amongst alleys and paths, it is culture that blends with daily life.
Next time you're wondering what to see on Lake Como, take a detour. Come to Lecco. Breathe the Manzonian air, listen to the sound of the waves, look up at the Resegone. And perhaps, between sips of coffee and a stroll along the water, you too will hear the echo of a farewell to the mountains. But it will be a see you again. Because here, once you've been, Do you want to go back.
Not to be missed in Lecco and its surroundings
Manzoni Museum
Pescarenico e Castle of the Unnamed
Lakeside and Ponte Vecchio
Piani d'Erna by cable car
Historic centre and Basilica of San Nicolò
Bellano Gorge
Boat trip on the lake
Valsassina For families and trekking lovers
Advice from a mountain correspondentBring a copy of The Betrothed in your backpack, perhaps an old, yellowed edition. Sit on a bench by the lake. And read. You'll see that Lecco, in this way, will truly speak to you.
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