lake COMO

Dramatic scenery at the foothills of the Alps

VILLAS, BEACHES, TREASURES AND GARDENS

Even those who don’t know much about cycling have heard of the Giro di Lombardia, a cycling icon that is part of the culture of every bike fan. It is right in this area that the classic Giro di Lombardia passes through. From the Lake’s shores, one can enjoy multiple, fascinating views: suggestive borgos, splendid villas and lush gardens await visitors in search of a little charm and relaxation, or some culture and contact with nature.

There are many places in the world that claim to be the spiritual home of cycling: the twenty-one hairpins of Alpe d'Huez, the pavé of the Arenberg Forest, and the Muur van Geraardsbergen among them. Nothing though really can claim the spiritual tag like the small chapel that sits at the top of Madonna del Ghisallo, which is considered a museum.

​Partly because the collection of cycling artifacts accumulated was becoming far too big for the small chapel, a purpose-built Museo di Ciclismo has been created nearby on the mountaintop. In contrast to the traditional style of the chapel of the Madonna, the ultra-modern museum building is cut into the very side of the mountain itself – its massive plate glass windows affording breathtaking views of the Lombardia hills and the Lake.