Mandello Del Lario

If you like “slow” and “quiet”, then Mandello del Lario is for you. Easy to get to by train from Milan Central station.

Location

Mandello del Lario is about 10 km north of Lecco, 66 km north of Milan.  The city lies on the eastern shore of the Lecco branch of Lake Como across from Onno. The nearest airports are Milano Malpensa, Milano Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio. The train station is Mandello del Lario.

Quiet and Charming Accommodation and Restaurants

Mandello del Lario and the surrounding areas of Abbadia and Lierna are quiet towns with some very good restaurants and charming B&Bs.  Some places worth mentioning are here in the site, for example Mamma Ciccia where you can learn to make homemade pasta or have a romantic dinner in the courtyard, Mamma Ciccia also has holiday homes for rent, il Sotto Vento Restaurant (in nearby Lierna), Camping Abbadia is popular even a s a local hangout, and the charming B& B Contrada Lunga as well as many other hotels, apartments and restaurants in Mandello.

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Vintage Motorcycles

Mandello del Lario is home to Moto Guzzi the oldest European manufacturer of motorcycle production, established in 1921. Every year since 2001 Mandello del Lario hosts The  GMG (Giornata Mondiale Guzzi ; Worldwide Guzzi Day) where Guzzi owners and collectors come to show off their both new and vintage motorcycles. There is a museum with every model they have produced.

If you are a “Guzzista” you may want to stay at Villa Guzzi the historical home of the Carlo Guzzi family, founder of the Moto Guzzi motorcycle company which has now been converted in a holiday home.

Motorcycle tours to Switzerland are also available form Mandello del Lario.

Hiking, Cycling and Sport

Mandello del Lario or otherwise know as simply “Mandello“,  is at he foot of the Grigna moutnain. The Grigna is a popular hiking area known for its many caves and crevices as well as being host to an annual event called Sky Running- a marathon distance run where runners run UP the mountain! Winners receive the prestigious award, the Scaccabarozzi Trophy.

Cycling is also a popular sport in this area and there are many excursions and routes to take along the lake.

Tourism and Shopping

The center of Mandello del Lario is small but you should really explore the Viandante Trail, the ancient mule trails used by wayfarers and smugglers. You can also visit the little church of San Giorgio (Saint George), which legend says, was built by a Templar monk on his way back from the Holy Land. Its interior walls are decorated from floor to ceiling with frescoes in the naïve style.

The nearby towns and cities of Varenna, and Lecco are lovely to visit, as well the larger metropolis of Milan, which is a 45 minute train ride. Milano the capital of design and fashion, has a multitude of  shopping, museums and monuments to visit.

Bellagio is nice for shopping,  it’s a lovely lake town at the tip where the Como and Lecco branches of the lake meet. Just a ferry ride away, the world renowned lake side village has charming cafes, restaurants and boutiques, perfect for a day trip.