Civate: Basilicas, Frescoes and Routes around Lake Annone

Between Lakeside Routes and Mountain Destinations

Civate can be experienced from two very different perspectives: via routes along the water and via destinations on Monte Cornizzolo. The routes around the entire circumference of Lake Annone can be used year-round on foot or by bicycle. Mapped hiking trails lead from Civate to Monte Cornizzolo. This gives you a clear choice when planning your day between an extended circuit around the lake and a mountain route. The two focal points appeal to different interests and can be considered separately when planning your days.

San Pietro al Monte: a Destination for Hikers

You can reach the Basilica of San Pietro al Monte from the hamlet of Pozzo only on foot, via a mule track on the eastern slope of Monte Cornizzolo; the walk takes about one hour. If you include this destination in your plans, the ascent is an integral part of your day. The route makes San Pietro al Monte a destination where cultural interest and a specific hike come together directly, without assuming an additional connection to other excursions.

Casa del Pellegrino and Its Frescoes

The Casa del Pellegrino historically served as accommodation for travelers on their way to S. Pietro al Monte. The first reliable documentary references to the building date from the first half of the 15th century. The surviving frescoed rooms feature hunting scenes with wild boar, falcon and deer, as well as depictions of the pleasures of courtly life. The motifs give the visit a distinctly different historical character from the sacred iconographic programs of the basilicas and make the Casa del Pellegrino an independent point of interest for travelers interested in culture.

San Calocero: Church, Monastery and Iconographic Program

The present-day Romanesque three-aisled Basilica of San Calocero was built around 1050. The complex comprises the church and the former monastery, whose several wings form a large, two-storey cloister lined with arcades. The central nave contains a fresco cycle arranged in two registers, dating from the 11th to the 12th century. The scenes draw on episodes from the Old Testament, including Exodus, Joshua, the Book of Judges and the Books of Kings. Architecture and painting can therefore be considered together here.

Guided Tours and Frescoes in the Attic

Tours of the entire San Calocero complex, including the attic with its Romanesque frescoes, are conducted by Luce Nascosta. In addition, an externally accessible tour of the attic makes the upper section of an incomplete medieval fresco cycle with an Old Testament theme visible again. For planning purposes, this means distinguishing between a comprehensive tour of the church and monastery and the tour focusing on a particularly separate part of the fresco collection.

Choose Accommodation According to Your Preferred Daily Rhythm

When choosing accommodation in Civate, you can focus on the aspect you would like to emphasize during your stay: the routes around Lake Annone, the mapped hiking trails to Monte Cornizzolo, or the basilicas and frescoes of San Pietro al Monte and San Calocero. At Monte Cornizzolo, the Rifugio Marisa Consigliere offers food and shelter to mountain enthusiasts. This keeps the lake, mountain trails and architecture clearly separate as different components of your travel planning.

Compare Other Places

If you would like to compare other places for your travel planning, you can also find Cremella, Maggio, Barzio, Vendrogno, Limonta, Missaglia, Bellano and Varenna.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecco.