Menaggio

Menaggio is situated in the heart of Lake Como, on its western shore, at the beginning of a valley that connects Menaggio with Lake Lugano. Already at the beginning of the 18th century it was discovered by the first tourists, attracted by the beautiful landscape and the mild climate. The grand hotels and many luxurious villas were built. The town consists in a centre and three hamlets Loveno, Nobiallo and Croce and has a total of about 3200 inhabitants Menaggio is of ancient origins, and in its centre as well as in its hamlets, there are many interesting monuments which recall Menaggio's importance throughout the age, such as the memorial plaque of Minicio Exorato, a notable of the Roman empire, and the impressive perimetric walls that surrounded the medieval castle. For more detailed information on Menaggio see Historic and Artisctic Itinerary through Menaggio
On foot or by mountain bike you can  explore the trails of the Val Sanagra Park, a large territory rich in flora and fauna just above Menaggio. The sportsmen can try their climbing skill on the Via Ferrata to the top of Monte Grona or on the climbing face between Menaggio and the hamlet Nobiallo. Families can enjoy the splendid crazy golf on the lakeside promenade and the playground in the centre of the town. Menaggio boasts an awesome 18 hole golf course founded in 1907, and a lido  with a big beach and swimming pool. The town also has of a free public beach and numerous sport facilities.
The restaurants in the centre of town and in the hamlets all have traditional dishes on their menus either with  lake specialities, with its preference for fish, or the cuisine of the valleys, with polenta, game, mushrooms and local cheeses.  During the evenings musical events in the piazza , and small handcraft markets, often  animate the town.
Croce
Croce is the hamlet highest in elevation (393 m) and lies at the beginning of the Val Menaggio. Its centre is typical of a rural village with small alleyways and a small cobble stone square 22 of the 16 th century. On it’s slightly raised surface the rituals of the haymaking, of the harvest and the threshing took place. From Croce, an easy walk leads to the  superb belvedere “la Crocetta” where the little chapel dedicated to San Maurizio stands. In this area there are remains of  trenches which were part of the great defence line called linea Cadorna of the First World War.  Along via Wyatt you can also reach the famous 18 hole Menaggio Menaggio and Cadenabbia Golf Club , founded in 1907 by Alfredo Wyatt.

Loveno
Loveno is situated on the sunny south slope above Menaggio. In the small hamlet in the 18th century, artists and high society liked to stay spend the summer in its splendid villas. Among these  Villa Mylius Vigoni, property of the Federal German Republic, and seat of the German-Italian cultural foundation Villa Vigoni which organizes high level meetings.The park around the villa, designed by Giuseppe Balzaretto can be visited on reservation on Thursday from 2 p.m. tel. 0039 0344 361232.  In front on the Villa Vigoni there is Villa Garovaglio Ricci, seat of the offices of the cultural foundation Villa Vigoni. In the lower part of Loveno stand the beautiful villas Belfaggio and Bolza. The parish church SS. Lorenzo and Agnese, rebuilt between 1725 and 1738 is a noteworthy example of baroc art. Inside apart from fresco's by Luigi Tagliaferri there is a wooden statue by Lorenzo Matieli dating of 1737

Nobiallo
Nobiallo is a picturesque fishers' village, 1 km north of Menaggio. Its parish church of SS Bartolomeo and Nicolao  has an unusual Romanesque leaning bell tower of the 14th century. The ancient Roman road called Antica Strada Regina crosses through the hamlet and leads to Sanctuary of the Madonna della Pace  built in the 17th century. From here it is possible to proceed along the Antica Strada Regina to Rezzonico.