Castello di Vezio

Vezio Castle crowns the promontory above Varenna, in the municipality of Perledo. Its tower, walls and gardens occupy a commanding position over the central basin of Lake Como.

Why it matters

The stronghold belonged to the defensive landscape of the eastern shore. In the Middle Ages, Varenna's inhabitants could seek refuge within a system of walls extending from the hill towards the lake. The castle's relationship with the settlement below is central to its history.

What to notice

The tower rises within an enclosed court, while olive trees and Mediterranean planting soften the fortified setting. Pale figures known as the Ghosts of Vezio add a contemporary, theatrical element: these fragile sculptures are made by moulding gauze and plaster around volunteers. Displays associated with the castle also explore the Lariosaurus, an extinct aquatic reptile, through casts of fossil specimens.

Context and history

The castle's precise origins are uncertain. A local legend associates it with the Lombard queen Theodolinda, but that story does not establish her as its builder. Later ownership passed through the Sfrondati and Serbelloni families before the Greppi di Robilant family. Restoration and cultural interpretation have added new uses to the former military outpost.