The most illustrious of Italian geniuses, Leonardo Da Vinci, in his work Atlantic Codex described this idyllic place, a source of inspiration for writers, poets and painters, with the following words:
“Nesso, land where the river falls impetuous, through a great gap in the mount…”
It is just a small corner, one of the most hidden places in Italy, next to Lake Como, where you will not find great monuments. But it has a staging that amazes those who discover it: it looks like a hanging town, attached to a small gorge and with a river and waterfall that falls between the houses.
It is located in the Lombardy region, at the uneven mouth of a stream leading to the lake, a point where two streams come together that fall between the rocks in the form of a waterfall.
An old Roman bridge joins the two banks between the stream, which with the falling water acts as an eternal soundtrack for the houses
The photo seems unavoidable, especially for those who come sailing across the lake:
Civera Bridge
The first thing that catches your eye is the Puente de la Civera, located in the center, putting the finishing touch to the two halves of the city. Its solid stone construction in Romanesque style, clearly from the medieval period, harmonizes completely with the surroundings, giving it a romantic touch that makes locals and visitors fall in love with it.
Orrido de Nesso
Also read: towns that seem to hang on Lake Como
After the bridge, the spectacle is unparalleled: the Orrido de Nesso, a waterfall almost 200 meters high, seems to literally split the mountains with the unstoppable force of the union of its two torrents, the Tuf and the Nosè, giving rise to to this waterfall that pours incessantly on the waters of Lake Como.
This natural wonder not only serves as a tourist attraction, but for centuries has been the engine of this municipality, which takes advantage of its great strength as eco-energy in oil mills, flour mills and industry in general.
Also read: Varenna, a perfumed pearl in Lafo de Como
Iglesia de San Pietro and Paolo
Entering the alleys of Nesso you will arrive at the Church of San Pietro e Paolo, dating from 1095, rebuilt in baroque style in 1600, which you must not miss to see the wonderful frescoes by Carlo Innocenzo and Luiggi Tagliaferri that decorate the chapel of San José and the Baptistery.
