Calco: Villa Calchi, Churches and the ZPS Il Toffo

Calco combines the history of Villa Calchi and several churches with the wetland landscape of the ZPS Il Toffo. Anyone wishing to combine historic landmarks, landscape and nature observation during a trip to Italy will find two distinct, clearly identifiable focal points here: sacred and aristocratic buildings, as well as an environment shaped by the river and wetlands.

Villa Calchi and Historic Churches

Villa Calchi is a valuable aristocratic residence on the summit of a hill in the area historically known as Vescogna. This area is now the Calco Superiore district of the municipality of Calco. The villa has two reception halls decorated with frescoes, which were added in the first quarter of the 16th century. Here, the elevated location combines with tangible evidence of aristocratic architectural and decorative history.

The Chiesa dei Santi Colombano e Gottardo adds a much older history to this focus. It was founded around 1162 by Cluniac Benedictine nuns. The church contains a surviving fresco of Christ Pantocrator, dated to the end of the 13th century and restored in 2000. The Chiesa dei Santi Colombano e Gottardo stands on a hill overlooking the right bank of the Adda. If you would like to combine sacred art and medieval history, this site offers several concrete points of connection.

Calco's sacred history also includes the Chiesa di San Vigilio. It was rebuilt in 1754. Together with the older Chiesa dei Santi Colombano e Gottardo, it shows that the town's ecclesiastical landmarks span several historical periods.

ZPS Il Toffo and the River Landscape

Calco's natural environment is defined by the ZPS Il Toffo. In Calco, it extends along the entire course of the river. The protected area includes riverside wetlands with black alder and white willow woods, reed beds and bodies of water with diverse aquatic marsh vegetation. Thus, alongside the churches and the villa, the focus is on a landscape whose defining elements are water, riverside woodland and wetland vegetation.

The ZPS Il Toffo provides birds and amphibians with important breeding, refuge and overwintering sites. For nature enthusiasts, this aspect is just as significant as the visible landscape: the area is shaped not only by its waters and plants, but also by its importance as a habitat.

Destinations in the Surrounding Area

The Castello Dell'Innominato and the Museo Etnografico Dell'Alta Brianza are located near Calco. On a trip focused on the region's culture, you can plan these two destinations as additions to Villa Calchi and the churches. The castle broadens the historical perspective, while the museum adds an ethnographic perspective.

The Chiesa dei Santi Colombano e Gottardo is also included in the Itinerario Lombardo dei Siti Cluniacensi Lombardi, the Cammino di San Colombano and the Cammino di Sant’Agostino. These three connections also make the church interesting for travellers who wish to shape their stay around Cluniac history or the names of Saint Colombano and Saint Augustine. In this way, the cultural perspective extends from a single fresco and its restoration to religious and historical routes.

More Destinations for Your Trip to Italy

More destinations for your trip to Italy include Oggiono, Introbio, Bevera di Sirtori, Ballabio, Suello, Nibionno, Paderno and Torre De' Busi.

For the main travel overview: Lecco.