The territory of Lecco is an explosion of colours where nature can be enjoyed in all its seasons. But what to do when the temperatures become chilly or on a day when it rains? The answer is simple: a trip to the museum!
The magic of the heavenly vault in Palazzo Belgiojoso
Palazzo Belgiojoso is a historic building that houses the Natural History Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Historical Museum and the city’s Planetarium: each of them offers immersion in various eras and disciplines, which range from the exhibitions of archaeological finds to nature dioramas that enchant adults and children alike.
The Planetarium, in particular, is an unmissable experience for anyone who wants to discover the wonders of the sky: during the year, events are organised both for adults and children, such as projections in the dome and observation evenings to discover scientific curiosities about the constellations, planets and galaxies that populate the celestial vault!
Lecco’s bond with art and the mountain: Palazzo delle Paure
At Palazzo delle Paure, contemporary art merges with local history. Here, temporary and permanent exhibitions range from the pictorial and sculptural arts to photographic exhibitions. The section dedicated to the mountain is not to be missed and celebrates the deep bond between Lecco, its majestic peaks and walls of rock. Inside the Lecco Alpine Observatory, run by the Italian Alpine Club (IAC) of Lecco, you will even find a climbing wall, where children can practise their skills as “little spiders”!
In the history of Italian motorcycling: the Moto Guzzi Museum
The Moto Guzzi Museum in Mandello del Lario is an important venue for motorcycling fans: it houses more than 150 exhibits, including standard production motorbikes, sports bikes, prototypes and engines on a chronological tour that celebrates the history of the brand since 1921. Among the most iconic models, the 1928 Norge, the Airone and the Falcone can be seen; moreover, historic vehicles like the V7 Sport and unique examples such as the first Moto Guzzi of 1919 are displayed.
The Visconti Tower: evidence of Lecco in the Middle Ages
The Visconti Tower in Piazza XX Settembre was the main tower of the castle erected by Azzone Visconti in the 14th century. Restored by Giuseppe Bovara in 1816, the Tower housed the city’s prison, before being converted in 1932 into a Civic Museum.
Today, the tower is open to visitors during temporary exhibitions and has become a major attraction for those who want to discover the history and culture of the city.
A journey back in time along a silk thread!
Lecco’s past is closely linked to silk spinning.
In Garlate, in the ABEGG Silk Museum, housed in an eighteenth-century spinning mill on the shore of the lake, admire the “historic mulberry grove” with around sixty trees, essential for breeding silk worms. The museum’s collection includes silk-throwing machines and a hydraulic circular silk-throwing machine of 1815, capable of throwing hundreds of threads at the same time.
In Abbadia Lariana, in the Monti Civic Silk Museum, located in a majestic nineteenth-century mill, there are original fittings and machines, including a silk-throwing machine with a diameter of 5 metres and 11 metres tall with 972 spindles, an extraordinary size for silk-processing.
A visit here is a journey through the history of silk, which skilfully weaves together ancient knowledge and the curiosity of the present: an experience that reawakens the fascination of a timeless art.
