Claino con Osteno
Discovering Claino con Osteno
Claino con Osteno is a picturesque Lombard municipality located in the province of Como, composed of two communal fractions divided by their respective parishes: Claino, located in an elevated area, and Osteno, on the shore of Lake Lugano. The municipality has a population of approximately 548 inhabitants and is surrounded by some smaller hamlets, such as Rescia, Righeggia, and Barclaino.
A History Rich in Layers
During the communal age, Claino and Osteno represented a strategic point towards the Val d'Intelvi, and each of the two centers was defended by its own castle. The municipality of Osteno was part of the parish of Porlezza and shared the statutes of 1338. In 1416, Filippo Maria Visconti exchanged the castle of Baradello and the city of Como for a series of lordships, including Cima, Osteno, and the Valle Intelvi. In the following centuries, Claino and Osteno passed from the hands of the Pusterla to the Marliani, and from 1713, to the Riva-Andreotti, who were the feudal lords until the reign of Maria Teresa d'Austria. In 1751, Claino and Osteno formed a single municipality included in the separate land of the Duchy of Milan and subsequently in the parish of Porlezza, included in the I census district of the province of Milan. During the feudal period and until the Napoleonic age, Osteno was the seat of a court and a prelature. The aggregation of Ponna Superiore and Inferiore in the municipality of Claino with Osteno was abolished with the return of the Austrians after the incorporation wanted by Napoleon Bonaparte and the activation of the municipalities in the province of Como of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom.
The Symbols of the Municipality
The coat of arms of Claino con Osteno represents the tower of Osteno on the shore of Lake Lugano; the banner is a white cloth.
Places of Interest in Claino con Osteno
Among the places of interest in the municipality, we find the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. This church is located in Osteno and was declared a parish in 1437, even if it appears among the dependencies of the parish of Porlezza already at the end of the 13th century. Between 1582 and 1630, the church underwent important renovations with the addition of the two side aisles.
Discovering the Fractions of Claino and Osteno
Claino is the elevated fraction compared to Lake Lugano and is characterized by a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Among the historic buildings, we find the Church of Saint John the Baptist from the seventeenth century.
Osteno, on the other hand, is located on the lake shore and is a typically tourist fraction. Among the most suggestive attractions, the cylindrical tower with a clock placed at the top of the village, dating back to around 1895 and restored in 2005. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Lugano and the surrounding mountains.
Discovering the Hamlets of Claino con Osteno
Barclaino is a small medieval hamlet located inland. In this place, you can admire the Church of Saint John the Baptist, built in the seventeenth century.
Rescia and Righeggia are two smaller hamlets along Lake Lugano. Righeggia is characterized by the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the nineteenth century. Rescia, on the other hand, is known for its Madonna di Rescia Sanctuary and the homonymous relais-hotel dating back to 1630.
Claino con Osteno, despite being a small municipality, offers multiple historical and landscape attractions, all to be discovered and appreciated.
