Mezzegra on Lake Como: Culture, Greenway and Local History
Accommodation in Mezzegra
Mezzegra is located on the western shore of Lake Como, on the slopes of Monte di Tremezzo. Its location combines a strong historical character with specific sites for those interested in culture and a section of the Greenway del Lago di Como. Anyone choosing accommodation by the lake will therefore find a place whose character can be explored through churches, palazzi, a historic town centre, a museum and a public park.
File:Church in Mezzegra, village in Tremezzina, Italy.jpg
Photo: MJCEREZO via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Churches, Palazzi and Memorial Sites
The Chiesa di Sant'Abbondio was completed in 1724. The churchyard offers impressive views of the landscape.
Palazzo Rosati was built in 1701 at the request of the merchant Andrea Brentano Riati. Inside, the palazzo has 18th-century frescoes. A neo-Gothic tower was also built in the large garden in the 19th century. The building thus presents several historical layers in a single structure: its construction at the beginning of the 18th century, the interior decoration and the later addition to the garden.
Palazzo Brentano dates from the 18th century and stands along the route of the Greenway del Lago di Como in Mezzegra. It belonged to a powerful local merchant family that traded citrus fruits and olive oil in Northern Europe. This palazzo therefore allows the history of the area to be viewed not only through architecture, but also through the family's trading connections.
Casa dei Presepi is a small museum with a permanent collection of nativity scenes and dioramas. Another memorial site is located next to Villa Belmonte: a cross there commemorates the shooting of Benito Mussolini and Claretta Petacci on 28 April 1945. Both sites highlight different aspects of Mezzegra's history.
Greenway and Historic Town Centre
The Greenway del Lago di Como includes a stage from Mezzegra to Tremezzo. The section through Mezzegra passes through the historic town centre of Bonzanigo. This town centre includes remarkable historic buildings and gives the route a clear architectural connection. Casa dei Presepi is also located in Mezzegra along the Greenway.
For your travel planning, Mezzegra can be viewed through these different themes: the Chiesa di Sant'Abbondio represents sacred architectural history and views of the landscape, Palazzo Rosati and Palazzo Brentano represent historic architecture, Bonzanigo is known for its town centre, and Casa dei Presepi for its nativity scenes and dioramas. This allows you to decide before your trip whether you would prefer to focus on buildings, local history, memorial sites or a section of the route.
Parco di Mezzegra and Sagra del Missoltino
After the municipality acquired the park, Parco di Mezzegra became a public park. The Sagra del Missoltino takes place in this park in Mezzegra on the third Sunday in August.
Other Places for Travel Planning
Plesio, Brienno, Albavilla, Merone, Orsenigo, Veleso, Monguzzo, Moltrasio
For the higher-level travel overview: Como.
