Lierna
Welcome to Lierna: a town on Lake Como
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about Lierna, a small town that overlooks the beautiful Lake Como.
Physical geography
Lierna is located in the province of Lecco, in Lombardy. Its territory covers an area of just 11 square km and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Como. It borders Varenna and Mandello del Lario and has a breathtaking view of the Bellagio promontory. The municipality is composed of 12 ancient villages, each with its own history: Borgo Villa, Borgo di Grumo, Borgo Casate, Borgo di Mugiasco, Borgo Olcianico, Borgo di Sornico, Borgo di Giussana, Borgo di Ciserino, Borgo La Foppa, Borgo di Genico, Borgo Bancola and Borgo Castello, which is located on a small promontory protruding into the lake.
History
The history of Lierna is very ancient: the first human settlements date back to the Iron Age and there are many archaeological signs that demonstrate the presence of man in this area since ancient times. The name Lierna itself seems to derive from the Celtic "Ern", which means "rock overhanging the lake" or "La Rocca". The area became increasingly popular thanks to the discovery of the beauty of the place also by the encampments of Roman soldiers, who built numerous villas, including the first villa of Gaio Plinio Cecilio Secondo. Even the queen of the Lombards and of Italy, Teodolinda, loved to stay in the tower of the castle of Lierna. Over the centuries, the area was often the scene of clashes between the cities of Como and Milan. In 1118 the Decennial War began and Lierna chose to side with Milan. During an attack by Como, one of its towers, located in the locality of Castello, was destroyed.
What to see
Lierna offers many attractions for tourists: there are numerous churches to visit, including the church of the Saints Maurizio and Lazzaro, the church of Santa Maria, the church of Santa Marta and the church of San Giorgio. The castle of Lierna, located in the historic center of the Borgo Castello, is certainly a place of great historical and architectural interest. Finally, for nature lovers, a walk on the beach of Riva Bianca is an experience not to be missed: it is one of the most beautiful beaches of Lake Como and offers a breathtaking view of the mountains and crystal-clear waters of the lake.
Gastronomy
The cuisine of Lierna is based on local products, such as lake fish and vegetables from the area. Among the specialties to try are the polenta uncia, trout, lavarello, frogs and snails. Furthermore, it is worth trying the wines produced by local wineries, such as Sassella and Grumello.
Conclusions
In summary, Lierna is a town that offers a lot to tourists who decide to visit it: history, culture, nature and gastronomy are just some of the things that can be discovered in this beautiful place on Lake Como. If you have the opportunity, we recommend you to go there!
