Orrido di Nesso

The Orrido di Nesso is a gorge where the Tuf and Nosè streams converge and descend toward Lake Como. The waterfall and ravine shape the village’s built landscape and are visible from the medieval Ponte della Civera.

Why it matters

The meeting of the two streams created a deep gorge that divides the village before reaching the lake. The watercourse also supported local industry, powering mills, paper mills, spinning works and oil presses. Leonardo da Vinci recorded the falling water in his notebooks, and the gorge later became a subject for Grand Tour artists, including Federico and Carolina Lose.

What to notice

From the Ponte della Civera, the gorge narrows below the bridge before the water reaches the lake. The waterfall can also be seen from Piazza Castello in the upper village. The steep settlement climbs along both sides of the ravine, with paths and stairways connecting the buildings. The changing water flow reflects seasonal conditions and rainfall.

Context and history

The Orrido was formed by the confluence of the Tuf and Nosè streams, which cut through the rock before dropping toward Lake Como. Leonardo noted Nesso in the Codex Atlanticus. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Grand Tour artists depicted the gorge, while Giambattista Bazzoni set scenes of his 1829 novel about the wars of Musso in the surrounding landscape. The waterfall remains the defining natural feature of the village.