Careno: Italian hidden gem

On the eastern shores of Lake Como lies a small village in the shape of an inverted triangle: Careno. The village is ideal for those who want to bathe away from the crowds and take a relaxing stroll in a timeless place. Are you passionate about art, ancient traditions, and the outdoors? This jewel, set like a precious gem in the foothills of the mountains, a little-known destination far from the classic tourist routes, will surprise you with its lush nature and magnificent attractions. The extraordinary beauty of the naturalistic landscapes that characterize the territories around this ancient village, a hamlet of the municipality of Nesso, will enchant you with its enchanting panoramic views.

Small stone houses with colourful doors, cobbled alleys, labyrinths of stone stairs, a small harbour, a church, a tasty trattoria and a peaceful beach make Careno a simple but valuable place.

Are you curious to get to know Careno better and undertaking an exciting and compelling tour at the discovery of its treasures and fairy-tale atmosphere? Then let's discover together what is hidden in this little gem. Visit Italy offers its readers the opportunity to take advantage of unique experience, enjoying an enchanting tour with a cruise among the masterpieces and marvelous views of Como, Ghisallo, and Bellagio. 

If you choose this magical destination to spend a marvelous vacation, you will discover many opportunities to appreciate its rich offerings.

Among the things to do in Careno, if you are fond of sacred art and sacred architecture, we recommend visiting the Parish Church of the Assumption, built in 1665 and located along the route from Bellagio and Como, and the Church of San Martino, built in the Romanesque style and with a single nave, with its portico embellished by a mullioned window. Visiting the parish church, you can admire the works created by Pietro Grossi, the 17th-century stuccoes by Agostino Silva of Morbio, and an elegant baptismal font.

At the top of Careno Mountain, at an altitude of 360 meters, you can explore the Masera Cave, connected by mysterious tunnels and underground water basins to the vast massif of karst origin of Mount Palanzone and the Timavo Plain.

Careno is a hamlet of Nesso, a small village built entirely of stone, the local stone of Moltrasio. A staircase of 300 steps runs through the village and skirts the old houses with flowered and colourful windows, which are sure to catch your attention.

From the staircase you will enjoy memorable views and glimpses, and halfway down you will come across the imposing Church of S. Martino and the Trattoria del Porto di Careno. The family-run trattoria is one of the most authentic restaurants on Lake Como, where you can savour the culinary tradition of the area. Here you can taste fresh fish typical of the lake, lavaret and many other local dishes. One of the curiosities of this restaurant is that the owner is the only one in possession of the keys to the Church of S. Martino, so if you want to visit it, you will have to ask him!

Past the trattoria, you will find yourself in front of the medieval-style Church of S. Martino, an architectural example of the art of the Maestri Comacini. The church has a stone bell tower, the oldest on the Lake, and its exterior features a porch facing the Lake on which you can take wonderful photos and lose yourself in the beauty of the surrounding panorama.

But the little church offers much more inside, with its numerous frescoes dating back to the 16th century, only recovered during recent restoration work, and a triumphal arch decorated with themes of the Annunciation.

Careno's 300 steps end in front of its secluded and quiet little beach, consisting partly of sand and partly of grass, a truly enchanting spot where you can dive into the cool waters of the Lake undisturbed and surrounded by majestic, enveloping nature. The beach can only be reached on foot or by boat.

Mountain lovers, on the other hand, can reach Monte Careno, 600m above the village. Here you will be greeted by dense forest vegetation and the scent of freshly cut meadows, tended by the locals. From Monte you can also admire wonderful views and really feel part of nature and history, thanks to the old farmhouses scattered here and there. 

Not far from Careno you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a truly suggestive and primordial place: the Grotta Masera. Inside the cave, which is a good 400 metres long, you will find small lakes and waterfalls that will catapult you into a surreal and magical dimension, in which the quietness of the quarry mixes with the gentle sound of flowing water. Grotta Masera is a typical example of the karstic evolution of the area in which fossils of marine molluscs dating back 400 million years have been found.

You have several options to choose from if you want to reach Careno. You can travel by car to benefit from complete autonomy, starting from Como and following the direction towards Bellagio.

If you prefer moving with public transportation, a convenient and efficient bus service is available: Line C30 runs the Como-Bellagio SPT route, while Line C32 connects Como and Piano del Tivano. We recommend using the boat to admire the charming lake views, which cover the route from Como to Colico, stopping at Nesso and the CB1 Como-Bellano Navigazione Lago di Como Line.

Admire the wonders of Lake Como with the Dolcevita tour from Milan while enjoying the experience offered by Visit Italy.