Musso on Lake Como: History and Landscape at Sasso di Musso

Natural Area on Lake Como

Musso on Lake Como combines natural landscapes and historic buildings. Sasso di Musso is considered a natural balcony overlooking Lake Como. At the transition between Musso and Dongo, Giardino del Merlo is located on Sasso di Musso. The botanical garden combines Mediterranean and exotic vegetation with alpine vegetation.

Churches Bearing Visible Traces of Time

The history of Musso includes several churches bearing clear traces of time. Chiesa San Biagio is a Romanesque church whose origins are dated to around the 12th century. The year 1507 is carved into the portal; scenes from the life of Saint Blaise are depicted in fresco style in the three lunettes above the doors. Chiesa Santa Eufemia stands in a scenic location at the first rocky step of Sasso di Musso. The present building dates from the 17th century, and the year 1662 is carved into the façade.

Fortress, Museum and Local History

Castello di Musso is a medieval fortification built to guard Lake Como. In the first half of the 16th century, it became the headquarters of Gian Giacomo Medici. Its use as Gian Giacomo Medici's headquarters is part of this military history. In the exhibition areas accessible to visitors, the Museo Civico Storico di Musso presents the marble quarries of Musso as well as the castle of Musso associated with Gian Giacomo Medici ("Il Medeghino"). The museum also focuses on local history and traditional production activities; its exhibits are closely connected with the area. The combination of the fortification, marble quarries and traditional production activities brings together different aspects of the town's history in the museum.

Villa Orombelli is a private villa in Musso whose history can be traced back to 1871 and to the second half of the 18th century.

Giardino del Merlo and Rocky Landscape

Along the path through the garden, visitors can see stone bridges, grottoes and other stone structures commissioned by Giovanni Manzi. There are also views of rocks descending steeply to the lake.

Circular Trails and Mountain Bike Route at Sasso di Musso

A circular trail to Sasso di Musso begins in Musso and leads downhill back to Dongo; the final section is completed on foot. For this circular trail, the final section on foot must be included in the day's planning. The San Bernardo–Musso route is a challenging circular mountain-bike route that runs around Sasso di Musso. For the San Bernardo–Musso mountain-bike route, its classification as a challenging circular route must likewise be taken into account when planning the day.

Getting to Musso by Bus and Boat

Musso is connected to bus route C10 and can be reached by boat during the summer months. Boat travel must therefore explicitly be included in summer planning, while bus route C10 connects Musso.

More Destinations for Trip Planning

Valsolda, Orsenigo, Griante, Colonno, Dizzasco, Laglio, Trezzone, Careno

For the higher-level travel overview: Como.