Garlate

A thread linking past and present

Garlate’s story stretches back to Roman times. The town gives its name to the lake on whose shores it lies, connected by the River Adda to the eastern branch of Lake Como. Surrounded by gentle hills, with the majestic outline of some of the Lecco area’s most iconic mountains rising in the distance, Garlate is an ideal destination for anyone who loves spending time outdoors. Here you can soak up the atmosphere of a traditional rural village, with its villas and beautiful courtyards, explore the lakefront on foot or by bicycle, and follow the many trails running through Monte Barro Regional Park and Adda Nord Regional Park. The abundance of water played a crucial role in the development of the silk industry, which transformed the area from the period of Austrian rule onwards. Traces of this heritage can still be seen in the old mulberry groves and the remains of former silk mills—a legacy now preserved at the Abegg Civic Silk Museum, one of the most fascinating museums of its kind in Lombardy.

Abegg Civic Silk Museum

Overlooking the waters of Lake Garlate, the Abegg Civic Silk Museum is housed in an atmospheric 18th-century silk mill and offers an immersive experience designed to fascinate visitors of all ages. The visit begins outside the museum, where you can explore the historic mulberry grove, home to different varieties of mulberry trees from around the world. Inside, the displays take you through every stage of silk production, from silkworm rearing to weaving, accompanied by the sounds of historic machinery brought back to life. It is a fascinating journey into the heart of a factory that played a defining role in the history of Garlate and its community.

The Abegg Civic Silk Museum

Places of faith, history and culture

As you wander through the streets of Garlate, you will come across traditional farm courtyards with columns and arcades, cobbled squares and stone stairways. You can visit the Church of Santo Stefano, whose origins date back to the Early Christian period, and see a fragment of an ancient Roman altar. Among fountains and gardens, you will discover 17th-century villas with remarkable terracotta decorations, wooden galleries and late-Gothic frescoes, while the striking bell tower of the Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano rises above the town. Cosmas and Damian were two brothers, physicians and martyrs, revered for their devotion to caring for the sick.

Nature and landscape

A gateway to the trails leading up Mount Barro, Garlate offers a varied landscape to explore on foot or by bicycle, from lakeshores and broadleaved hillside woods to panoramic routes between lake and mountains. The town lies within two regional parks—Monte Barro Regional Park and Adda Nord Regional Park—and is one of the main access points to the Anello dei Laghi, the “Ring of the Lakes”, a cycling and walking loop of around 18 kilometres that offers an easy, relaxing ride suitable for everyone.