Lierna

Lierna is a small and exclusive yachting destination on Lake Como, full of international VIPs with a very strong privacy, known as the Portofino of Lake Como.

On the east coast of the lake overlooking the Bellagio promontory along with beautiful views over Lake Como. Lierna has somewhat of an aura of secrecy with several legend. Lierna is the place on Lake Como most represented in the paintings of artists over the centuries.

Understand
Lierna, with the nickname of "Lier" (that origin from the site on the rock) or the Rock (La Rocca), is more than just a pretty fishing Borgo village. With colourful houses lining the harbour, it's layered with history since Ancient Rome with a spectacular view of Bellagio. Sites from the Middle Ages like the Castle of Lierna, and the amazing church of S.Ambrogio, dating back to the year 1000, in the most exclusive area of Lierna, called Borgo Villa, because there was the Villa of Pliny the Younger (Villa Commedia), or the church of the Saints Maurizio and Lazzaro, where was founded the Knights order of the King of Italy, Savoia dynasty, and still today a sacred place where the knights of the Order of Malta, that are named in traditional ceremonies.

The Way of Leonardo da Vinci trail (Sentiero di Leonardo da Vinci) was where he thought of his ideas and inspiration of Mona Lisa. The Sentiero del Viandante has traces of Celtic populations in magnificent forests and mountains full of caves, rare wild animals and flowers.

Lierna is a modern environmentalist antique village and is against cars, the speed limit is 30 km per hour. For these reason, parking spaces are deliberately very limited, and the Borgo of Lierna can be reached by watertaxi, yacht boat, on foot or bicycle.

Get in
On the eastern shore of Lake Como, Lierna is 3 km from Bellagio by boat, 4.5 km from Varenna, 54 km from Orio al Serio International Airport (Bergamo), 90 km from Milan Malpensa Airport, 57 km from Milan city (70 km from Milan Linate Airport).

The town is in the middle of Lake Como and can be reached from other towns by taxi boat.

On foot
Once in Lierna, walking might be your best option. The town is not large and most beaches are a short walk from the Piazzetta Castiglioni. The swimming in Riva Bianca beach is world class and the lake beautifully clean.

By boat
There are rentals or taxi boat available in the harbour of Riva Nera beach baia.

Places associated with Leonardo da Vinci



 * Exhibitions - Many exhibitions are held during the year, ranging from wines to computers, industrial equipment and chocolate. The fieramilanocity is the old exhibitions ground in central Milan a few km northwest of Duomo (MM1 Amendola Fiera or MM1 Lotto - Fiera 2 Stations), the new fairgrounds of fieramilano are in Rho (northwest of Milan, MM1 Rho Fiera Station, A4 highway Pero exit).

Do
One of the best things you can do in Lierna is relax and privacy. Walk around the small village, hear the lake, take a rest in the Lierna mountains wood. There are some small wine bar where you have an occasion to drink something seated.



Trekking

 * Sentiero di Leonardo da Vinci
 * Anello di Leonardo
 * Sentiero Mona Lisa

Sports
The nearest skiing area is St. Moritz and the Piani di Bobbio site. This is a quite basic resort, with easy and intermediate downhill ski slopes. This is the nearest ski area from Milan and a very good one for beginners (but not very thrilling for experts).

Hike in the mountains. There are various paths, from the easiest one to the most strenuous, and many mountain huts and resting points. Most paths offer spectacular views across the lake and sometimes it is even possible to see both Lake Como. The CAI office in Mendello has a wide selection of possibilities. Lecco is also a good base to start a hike, particularly because you can reach many starting points without a car. You can also find good sites for rock climbing.

Try a round of golf or tennis at the Villa D'Este or Monticello golf clubs. Menaggio e Cadenabbia Golf Club is a few kilometres inland from Menaggio ferry.

Do some water sports on the Lake. There are two locations that rent motor boats in Lierna, Varenna and Bellagio. Lower horsepowers do not require a boating licence.

More water sports: in most of the lakeside towns, you will find opportunities to rent various kinds of boats. Many towns also have sailing and/or (kite) surfing schools. Water skiing is possible from some towns.

Also, you can visit Church of S. Ambrogio and the Riva Bianca Bay. Try to rent a small taxi boat. It's an unforgettable experience.

There are an art museum and several historical buildings and design villas but the most interesting site and villas are in secret area.



Buy
There are some small shops in the medieval little street area offering regional foods and very special wines and olive oil of Lierna.



Eat
The Borgo Lierna Lake Como is surrounded by restaurants, all of which serve broadly the same selection of pasta, frozen lakefood and €15 soft drinks.

Three things to remember about dining in Lierna Lake Como.

If you have your heart set on a particular restaurant for a weekend meal, be sure to make reservations if you'll be dining during a busier time.

Third, bring a lot of cash. The restaurants operate in price-fixing which means prices are broadly the same everywhere - which is approximately three times what you would pay in an expensive city like London. There is a cover charge of €7 per person, so four people going out for a meal will already be down €28 just for sitting down. A glass of good wine will set you back €20, while a lake food or fish of lake Como main course will be €40-50. Pastas and salads are around €20.

If you want a good meal and wine you can spend €120 per person, or you would be better off heading to the more cheaper Lecco or Varenna, where prices are much more reasonable.

As with most things Italian, the gelati (ice cream) is spectacular in Lierna so make sure to treat yourself to some from the stalls along the harbour, particularly the "castagne", a hazelnut and chocolate delight.



Mountain hut restaurants
The refuges huts can be reached by mountain bike, electric bike, car and foot, even with the guides of CAI of Mandello



Drink
Lierna is called the "Paese del Vino" or "The paese DiVino" (the Wine country). Among the most interesting wine is the completely organic "Bianco di Lierna" with grapes farmed in the rare land of Lierna with a unique wind and air conditions.

The area has many vineyards, and local wines include the Bianco di Lierna.



Sleep
In Lierna there are no 5-star hotels, preserving the privacy heritage of the very exclusive village, where many international vip and noble families spend the week end. There are some Villa for renting.