Campanile di San Nicolò (Matitone)

The bell tower of San Nicolò rises 96 metres above Lecco. Its slender neo-Gothic silhouette inspired the nickname Il Matitone, the big pencil, and makes it a distinctive feature of the city's skyline.

Why it matters

The tower joins two very different phases of Lecco's history. A remnant of the fortified town forms its base, while the soaring structure above expresses the ambitions of the late nineteenth-century community.

What to notice

The massive defensive base contrasts with the tall shaft and pointed summit. The transition from a low fortification to an emphatically vertical church tower gives the structure its particular character. Nine bells complete its religious and civic identity beside the basilica.

Context and history

Construction began in 1882 under engineer Enrico Gattinoni. Financial difficulties stopped work in 1894, delaying completion. The summit cross was installed in 1903, and the inauguration took place on Christmas night in 1904. The long building campaign made the tower a shared local undertaking as well as an architectural landmark.