Colico between fortresses, cycling routes and water sports

Fortresses, Towers and Living History

Colico appeals to travellers who want to combine culture and activity: fortresses, a tower, a Romanesque priory and an ethnographic museum come together with cycling routes and water sports. This gives you a selection of clearly distinguishable highlights that you can arrange according to your interests and travel pace.

Forte di Fuentes was built in 1603 to prevent the expansionist ambitions of the Grisons. It is one of the few surviving examples of Spanish rule in this area.

Forte Montecchio Nord is the only Italian fort from the First World War whose original armament is still completely intact. Access is only possible as part of a guided tour; tours take place hourly.

Torre di Fontanedo was built in the 14th century at the behest of Bernabò Visconti as part of the defensive line of the Upper Lake. It was restored in 2019 and can be reached on foot via a mule track marked with the AF signs of CAI Colico.

Abbazia di Piona, more precisely Priorato di Piona, is a rare example of Lombard Romanesque architecture. It is located in the municipality of Colico, at the tip of the small Olgiasca peninsula. By car, you can reach it via a free car park; it is also possible to get there on foot from Colico or by boat.

The Museo della Cultura Contadina di Colico is located in the Villatico district. It is an ethnographic museum documenting rural life in the Colico area between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It focuses on local activities such as cheese processing, haymaking, livestock farming, viticulture and cereal cultivation.

Cycling Routes and Water Sports

The Sentiero Valtellina is a 114-kilometre cycling and walking route along the Adda River, connecting Colico with Bormio. It has 40 equipped rest areas and 46 access points and is connected to 6 bicycle rental stations.

The Ciclabile Valchiavenna starts in Colico and runs for 40 kilometres to Villa di Chiavenna, the last town before the Swiss border. It is almost entirely flat, suitable for all types of bicycles and can also be used with a pushchair. The documented distances of 114 and 40 kilometres describe two different route lengths and make it easier for you to get your initial bearings.

At Ontano Beach, you can learn and practise wakeboarding, SUP, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing. In addition, Colico has three facilities where kitesurfing equipment can be rented and kitesurfing can be practised. This means that water sports can be considered a focus in their own right alongside culture and cycling.

The Anello dei Forti offers a viewpoint overlooking the Colico plain, Montecchio Est and the Bassa Valtellina. When choosing a hotel for your trip to Colico, you can use these specific interests as planning priorities: historical sites, cycling routes, water sports or a viewpoint.

Discover more destinations

For more travel ideas, you can also explore Rovagnate, Torre De' Busi, Molteno, Cernusco Lombardone, Limonta, Taceno, Montevecchia and Dervio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecco.