Corenno Plinio, wonderful medieval village on Lake Como

What one expects when one says medieval village is a maze of narrow streets, a castle, ancient walls, a square, big gates, and a tangle of houses and steps. Well, Corenno Plinio, on Lake Como, has all these elements!

And the impression, wandering through its streets, is really that of having taken a leap in time, backwards of course!

Hi, I am Marta, Local Blogger of Lake Como! Need some help planning your lake trip? Check out my Travel Designer service!

Lake Como: the village of Corenno Plinio

The village of Corenno Plinio, a hamlet of Dervio, is located on the eastern shore of Lake Como and in many respects has nothing to envy to better-known towns on the Lario.

As of June 2022, entry to the village of Corenno Plinio is allowed upon purchase of a ticket costing €3.

Arriving by car, the first thing that strikes the eye is the wide cobblestone square. Just a small taste of what you are about to go and explore!

From the square you have no way of fully realizing the beauty of this village, but you only have to look out into one of its narrow streets and start down the steps to soon grasp its charm.

And to realize that you are overlooking the lake!

I’ll just let you imagine the glimpses one enjoys, wandering through its alleys, thanks to this privileged position.

Corenno Plinio is a village full of picturesque corners and is meticulous in its details. Balconies overflowing with flowers, old houses and doorways create an enchanting effect.

But the settlement owes its origins to the castle from which, over the centuries, it later developed.

And even today its presence is important and stands out!

Prominent above it all are the two crenellated towers and the town wall. It is intriguing to discover that this fortress was not a private home, but was built by the community to protect themselves in case of danger.

A real fortress in short, which apparently served its purpose well.

What to see in Corenno Plinio

There are three goodies to look for in its tangle of narrow streets and lanes: the church, the old pier, and the belvedere.

The parish church of St. Thomas of Canterbury, in addition to housing apparently very beautiful frescoes (unfortunately, the interiors can only be seen on guided tours), is striking for the three large funerary monuments of the feudal family of the time, the Andreani, and located right in front of its facade.

I have read that they are the only example of monumental tombs from the Gothic period on the entire Lario…which made them even more fascinating to my eyes!

The old pier, on the other hand, you must not miss because of the striking location where it is located, at the bottom of one of the stairways that plummet from the square into the lake.

Once you have reached it turn around and look behind you again. You will get a glimpse of Corenno Plinio from the lake. You will notice the steps, carved into the rock, climb steeply toward the square. And you will become even more aware of the extraordinary nature of this small village.

Finally, at the opposite end of the village, there is the belvedere, an open space where “sights” have been placed, each pointed at a specific place on the western shore of the lake, with an explanation.

It helps you get your bearings and decide your next destination on the lake!

Discover my mini-guide: Discovering Lake Como with tips of a local!