- Villages
- Art & Culture
An out-of-town excursion: the painted villages of Lombardy between Lecce and Como
A little journey to discover the surprising open-air works of art scattered throughout the jewel-like villages of the Lecco and Como areas.
Various museums created by the talent of students from the best academies, architectural walls that have been enlivened with stunning frescoes by famous Italian artists: our region boasts an unexpected open-air artistic heritage thanks to the array of works that constitute the multicoloured mosaic of Lombardy's villages, which sparkle with life and colour.
This unusual heritage stands out from the usual tourist circuits and the hustle and bustle of metropolitan streets - and, as part of a wider national phenomenon, made up of as many as 200 painted villages scattered throughout every corner of the Italian Boot - it provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an out-of-town excursion to help us "reconnect with the world". If it is true that, as art historian Flavio Caroli says in his Guide to the Painted Villages of Lombardy, "lesser Italy is often the best Italy from which to start again".
Confident that we are doing you a favour, we have chosen to guide you by the hand through the painted villages of Lombardy that are located in the provinces of Como and Lecco, and which are particularly worthy of a stop and an in-depth look. If you love art and little stories, if you find walks in the open air invigorating, if you are curious about people and traditions - this short, colourful, and lively itinerary is bound to delight you.