Things to Do in Colico

Things to Do in Colico, Italy - Colico Attractions

Things to Do in Colico

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Top Attractions in Colico

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What travelers are saying

  • saronic
    Zurich, Switzerland26,274 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    About half an hour after leaving Colico on the 'Sentiero dei Forti' in a northerly direction we arrived at the ticket office of the 'Forte Montecchio Norte'. The next tour offered was at 12 midday, thus too far away for us, so we continued towards the 'Forte de Fuentes' instead of waiting.

    To visit this military installation from The First World War would have interested me, less so my wife. Some information can be had on the outside, even an old black and white photo, also one has the possibility to get a glimpse of parts of the interior from besides the closed gate.

    The fort was built in case the Central Powers would march in a southerly direction through Switzerland, not respecting its neutrality. It was manned again during WWII, but saw no action in either war. In 2009 it was turned into a museum.
    Written August 28, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jennybythesea
    Makadi Bay, Egypt4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a truly beautiful and peaceful place. Tricky to get to, but absolutely recommend it!
    As a christian I found being in this place extremely moving, not something I have experienced previously.
    Written April 17, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Timo
    Rotterdam, The Netherlands83 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic apartment, very comfortable, tasteful restauration, great hosts! Highly recommended if you want to visit lake Como (or Colico) without being bunked up on the shores of the lake - especially true in high season.
    Written August 22, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • saronic
    Zurich, Switzerland26,274 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We passed by this site on our enjoyable walk 'Sentiero dei Forti' north of Colico. There is an entrance fee to be paid, but the friendly young lady in charge (Victoria) can give good explanations in front of a plan of the fortress in Italian and English. There are just ruins to be seen now, since French troops during Napoleonic times destroyed the construction, which by then had already been out of use.

    The history of the 'Forte' goes back to the beginning of the 17th century, when the then Spanish governor of Milan, the Conde de Fuentes, had this fortress built against an eventual incursion of the The Three Grey Leagues (today the Grisons in Switzerland), who then already controlled the Valtellina and the Valchiavenna. It is today one of the few visible remains of Spanish rule in Milan, which lasted almost 200 years.

    The location of the fortress is strategically perfect, since from the low hill, on which it stands one controls the 'Piano di Spagna' (Spanish plain) between Lake Como and Lake Mezzola and the entrances to the valleys of Valtellina and Chiavenna. Just underneath the 'Forte' is the river Adda, coming from the Valtellina and flowing not far away into the 'Lago di Como'.

    After a visit at the end of the 18th century by the Austrian emperor, the new master of the area, the fort was declared as useless and was thus abandoned. Even so, just to do the Swiss a favour, Napoleonic troops had the building destroyed, thus only ruins are left now. Still discernible though is the roofless church of St.Barbara, the Governor's Palace and the Soldiers Quarters.

    At the northeastern end eight cannons were emplaced during WWI, but they never saw any action. There are several information boards on the site in Italian, French, German and English, but often not readable anymore due to cracks and faded letters.
    Written August 28, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ultimate Family Travels
    Deurne, The Netherlands258 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    if you have time and want a small walk with a nice icecream, this is the place, not a top attraction but a nice vibe, specially early evening
    Written March 1, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • chickandbeast
    Southgate, Canada8,553 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We stumbled across this ruin on a days drive and decided to stop and explore. We shared the space with some livestock who were grazing in the ruins, since they had horns we couldnt get too close.

    It was a lot of fun
    Written June 15, 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • TOMMY0436
    Philadelphia, PA15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Easy and open way to purchase fairly priced gourmet wine & spirits from the local area and abroad. We were tipped off to this place by a waiter in Varenna. He told us to avoid the touristy wine and cheese boutiques if we were going to buy cases of wine for our trip home.

    We did not do a tasting or lesson because we did not want to consume wine prior to a long drive but the facilities looked wonderful!

    It is off the beaten tourist path in a industrial park but easy to drive to with more than ample parking.
    Written August 23, 2015
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • saronic
    Zurich, Switzerland26,274 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The 'Sentiero dei Forti' (path of the forts) is a round walk out of Colico in a northerly direction. The distance is 9km and there are not much differences in altitude, just about 80m, when one goes over the Montecchio hills. It is mostly on small, unpaved roads, with almost no traffic. The best part is in the middle, on a lovely footpath through forests, over meadows and through a traditional hamlet. A bit boring is the long straight stretch by the river Adda.

    On the way one has the opportunity two visit two forts. The Forte Montecchio Norte from WWI comes first, just a 5 minutes branch off from the 'Sentiero'. It can only be visited on guided tours at certain hours. Easier is a visit of the early 17th century 'Forte di Fuentes', built at a time, when Milan belonged to Spain. From here one goes down to the river Adda, branching off to the left before the river reaches Lake Como. Past the 'Spiaggia Selvaggia', the wild beach, one finally arrives back at Colico by the Spiaggia Ontano.
    Written August 28, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Reisandpieces
    100 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Simone gave us a great introduction to their wines. He was very sweet and we learned a lot. There is a huge selection of other wines and alcohol as well. I think only locals know about this place.
    Written June 9, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • saronic
    Zurich, Switzerland26,274 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just a 10 minutes walk from the center of Colico one comes to this beach with a big grassy area behind it and named after a big alder tree ('ontano' in Italian), that has been standing at this place for ages. We had been arriving here, when walking the 'Sentiero Valtellina' out of the Forte di Fuentes, past the Spiaggia Selvaggia, the wild beach, 500m to the north.

    It was mid October, so nobody was swimming, but a lot of people were relaxing here on that sunny day. Active were only some, who were kitesurfing, for which this beach is well known. Often World Cup championships take place at this spot. This is thanks to one of two typical Lake Como winds, the Breva, which blows regularly between March and October from a southerly direction between late morning and late afternoon. It then takes over from the other wind, the Tivano, blowing from northeast, usually in the morning hours.

    A small peninsula separates the Ontano Beach from the La Breva Beach, with a beach volleyball court and a restaurant. Watersport equipment can be rented and there is also the Windsurf School 'Son of a Beach'. Sometimes these two beaches are just called 'Spiaggia Montecchio Norte', after the hill at the back. South from here comes the beach known as 'Lido'.
    Written August 29, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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